In one of the most highly anticipated legal decisions in recent memory, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said former police officer Christopher Manney will not be charged in the fatal shooting of Dontre Hamilton at a park, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Chisholm determined that Manney’s use of force was justified self-defense. Hamilton’s family has repeatedly called for Manney, who has been fired, to face criminal charges.
U.S. Attorney James Santelle said the U.S. Department of Justice will undertake a federal review of the case. Manney shot Hamilton 14 times on April 30 during a confrontation at Red Arrow Park. Before the encounter, two officers responding to a call that Hamilton was asleep in the park checked on him twice and found he was doing nothing wrong. When Manney arrived, he was not aware that other officers had preceded him. As Manney began to pat down Hamilton, Hamilton fought him, and a confrontation ensued.