No charges in deadly south Columbia officer-involved shooting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A special prosecutor will not file charges against three Columbia police officers involved in a deadly shooting.
According to the Columbia Police Department, Callaway County Prosecutor Christopher D. Wilson told the Missouri State Highway Patrol in a letter on Oct. 1 the officers acted lawfully in their use of deadly force.
The officers killed Curtis Haas, 34, during an exchange of gunfire at a home in the 1700 block of Sun Court on Mar. 5, 2020.
Police said Haas ran from his vehicle and into the home when officers tried to arrest him for first-degree child molestation.
According to the special prosecutor's letter, police found several guns in Haas' home after the shooting.
ABC 17 News spoke to Haas' father in March 2020. He said he tried to get Haas to surrender to the police during a phone call with his son.
Haas' father told ABC 17 News he wasn't aware of the allegations against his son.
On Wednesday morning Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones released a statement regarding the Special Prosecutor's decision.
"The Special Prosecutor’s decision brings some measure of closure to those involved in this matter. When an incident like this occurs, it affects the families of those killed or injured, the families of our officers and the community as a whole. I am thankful for the difficult work that our officers do each day to keep our community safe," Jones said.
The police department placed the officers involved in the shooting on administrative leave after the standoff.
