Officials: Rapid City officer justified in fatal shooting

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A Rapid City police officer justifiably believed that his life was in danger when he shot and killed a man at an apartment complex in November, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said Thursday.

Jackley said a Division of Criminal Investigation review found the man, James Mathew Murphy, rushed at the officer with a knife and struggled with him before he was shot.

“The officer attempted to deescalate the situation but the individual they encountered continued with threatening behavior,” Jackley said. “This was a justified use of lethal force by the officer.”

Video and audio recordings from the officer’s body worn camera, witness interviews, surveillance video and other forensic evidence corroborated the the officer’s account that he feared for his life and that Murphy was a danger to the public, Jackley said.

The officer was not injured.