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The
grand jury made their decision based on an investigation by the
El Paso County sheriff's office.
"The Colorado Springs Police Department fully trusts and
supports this process ... and we trust in the decision made by
the community members who comprised the Grand Jury," Colorado
Springs Police Department chief Vince Niski said in a statement.
De'Von Bailey was killed on Aug. 3 by officers of the Colorado
Springs Police Department, who said the teenager was armed with
a handgun.
Body camera footage from the police showed Bailey was shot
multiple times in the back as he fled officers about to question
him about an armed robbery. The video did not show Bailey
brandishing a weapon at officers, but a handgun was found in his
trousers after the shooting.
The man's death sparked outrage and protests from the
African-American community and Bailey's family, who have said
through their lawyers that Bailey posed no threat to officers.
The two officers who discharged their weapons were identified as
Alan Van't Land, and Blake Evenson. They were placed on
administrative leave after the incident. In body-camera footage
released by the police department, both appear to be white.
An attorney for Bailey called the ruling a "bad result,"
according to CNN.
"This is the exact reason why we have called for an independent
investigation and an independent prosecution from the
beginning," Bailey family attorney Darold Killmer told CNN.
A representative from Bailey's family was not available to
Reuters early Thursday for comment.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; editing by Larry King)
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