Prosecutor says fatal shooting by police justified

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) – A prosecutor in Outagamie County has determined an Appleton police officer acted legally when he fatally shot a citizen.

District Attorney Carrie Schneider said Thursday Sgt. Greg Pieper shot and killed 61-year-old Keith Gabriel after he refused to follow the officer’s orders to drop his gun. Schneider said Gabriel had a Colt .45 handgun in his hand and started turning toward Pieper when he was shot three times last Friday. The officer was responding to a report of illegal fireworks when he encountered Gabriel.

WLUK-TV reported the Green Bay Police Department investigated the shooting.

Information from: WLUK-TV, http://www.fox11online.com