DOJ to Investigate Justified Milwaukee Police Shooting

The Justice department will "undertake a federal review of this case to determine if, under federal civil rights law, there is a basis, both legal and factual, upon which a federal civil rights prosecution may be premised," the U.S. attorney said in a statement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Civil Rights Division will conduct the review.

Officer Christopher Manney was fired for not following policy, even though the shooting was justified. (Photo: Milwaukee PD)Officer Christopher Manney was fired for not following policy, even though the shooting was justified. (Photo: Milwaukee PD)

After county prosecutors announced yesterday they won't charge a white former Milwaukee police officer in connection with the killing of a black man in April, the U.S. Department of Justice said today that it will review the case for possible civil rights violations.

The county prosecutor determined that the shooting was a justified use of deadly force in self-defense. Dontre Hamilton, 31, was shot 14 times by Officer Christopher Manney, after the two got into a violent struggle in a downtown Milwaukee park.

The Justice department will "undertake a federal review of this case to determine if, under federal civil rights law, there is a basis, both legal and factual, upon which a federal civil rights prosecution may be premised," the U.S. attorney said in a statement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Civil Rights Division will conduct the review, ABC News reports.

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