Grand jury clears police in fatal shooting

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Associated Press

Story Created: Tue Jun 5, 2012 9:52 AM

Story Updated: Tue Jun 5, 2012 9:55 AM

MADISONVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A grand jury in western Kentucky has cleared police officers of wrongdoing in a fatal shooting after a standoff in December.
   
Hopkins County Commonwealth's Attorney David Massamore told The Messenger (http://bit.ly/L0iJDA ) the panel concluded officers used justifiable force in shooting 25-year-old Dustin Barnes of Hanson.
   
Kentucky State Police say Barnes was armed with a shotgun when officers arrived at his home.
   
Troopers say Barnes came out of the house and fired at officers. The officers fired back and hit Barnes, who died later at the Regional Medical Center in Madisonville.
   
Massamore said one of the officers wore a body camera and captured the incident as it happened. The panel viewed about an hour's worth of video footage.
   
All three officers have returned to duty.
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Information from: The Messenger, http://www.the-messenger.com

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