By Associated Press - Friday, April 22, 2016

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (AP) - Prosecutors say a New Paltz police officer who shot and killed a man during a standoff in 2015 has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright says Thursday a grand jury found the Oct. 24, 2015 shooting of 60-year-old John Tozzi was “lawfully justified.”

Police said officers arrived at Tozzi’s residence around 3 a.m. to interview him about an earlier domestic dispute when he shot at them from the window of his second-floor apartment.



Carnright says Tozzi repeatedly fired at officers during the two-hour standoff. Tozzi was shot in the chest by a New Paltz officer who returned fire. The officer’s name wasn’t released.

Tozzi died in February. His family has said he was despondent over the loss of his parents and 22-year-old son.

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