SOUTH LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Lebanon County, Pa.-- In August an officer shot and killed 18-year-old, Joshua Malave. Lebanon County District Attorney David Arnold said the shooting is justified.
"The officer was legally and fully justified in applying deadly force," he said.
It was around 5:15 A.M. on August 3rd, when Malave broke into the Horseshoe Pike Gun Shop. Officers responded and found a window pried open and ammunition lying on the ground below it. That's when they saw Malave running away from them. They told him to stop, but he ran away.
Malave was later found in a nearby soybean field. Officers yelled commands at him, but he continued to run away. An officer fired a shot and missed him. Malave fired back with his rifle and missed. Officers yelled more commands and Malave continued to run. The officer fired another shot and Malave was killed.
The identity of the officer is not being released.
"For me the biggest thing is the safety of the officer. We had specific threatening statements made to the officers involved," Arnold said.
Malave was dressed in camouflage with a black ski mask over his face.
"The split second decision of the officer may very well have saved the lives of his fellow officers, himself, and the innocent residents of South Londonberry Township," Arnold said.
Based on the findings of the investigation, it is believed that Malave was thinking about suicide.
"The idea of being shot by police was something that he had been contemplating," Arnold said.
He said the Malave's parents were told about the investigation's findings, and they were understanding.
Arnold said about 80 guns were stolen from the store. They were all recovered. He said he is not sure if they are being sold again by the store.