No charges for cops who shot woman after she fired at them

WASHINGTON – Five officers won’t face charges in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old woman who shot at police after a robbery in Washington, prosecutors said Monday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement that prosecutors had completed their review of the Oct. 26, 2015 death of Marquesha McMillan and made the decision not to charge any of the officers.

“After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers used excessive force under the circumstances,” prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said McMillan and Ned McCallister attempted to rob a liquor store in Washington and were confronted by police. Prosecutors said McMillan fired at officers as she fled the store. She reportedly reloaded her weapon and ignored officers’ commands to drop the weapon and get on the ground. An autopsy revealed McMillan was shot eight times.

McCallister, 22, pleaded guilty in July to one count of attempted interference with interstate commerce by robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month.

Both McMillan and McCallister are black. Because the officers are not being charged, prosecutors did not identify them by name, in line with Department of Justice policy.

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