MEXICO, Maine (AP) - The Maine attorney general says police officers were justified in shooting and killing a 52-year-old man during a standoff in the town of Mexico last year.
State Police Trooper Paul Casey and Mexico Officer Dean Benson shot Steven R. Piirainen (Puh-RAIN’-en) in August. The chief medical examiner determined that Casey killed Piirainen and Benson’s shots were superficial. The shots came during an exchange of gunfire.
State police said Piirainen stole a truck before the standoff outside a convenience store and gas station. No officers were hurt. Casey and Benson were both placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice, during the investigation.
Attorney General Janet Mills concludes that the two officers “reasonably believed that unlawful deadly force was being used against them” during the standoff.
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