WASHINGTON — The D.C. police officers who fatally shot a man holding a BB gun in June will not face charges after federal prosecutors found they were acting in self-defense.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on Tuesday concluded there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or charges against the officers who fatally shot Sherman Evans, 63, in Northeast D.C.
On June 27, police responded to the 100 block of Varnum Street in Northeast for a call about a man holding a weapon. An investigation determined it was Evans who called 911 on his own cellphone to alert police about the armed man.
When police responded around 10:30 p.m., Evans was standing outside on the sidewalk with a weapon — later determined to be a BB gun — in his right hand. As seen in body-camera footage, police ordered Evans to drop the gun several times.
When Evans pointed the weapon at the officers and started to move in their direction, officers started shooting.
An autopsy found Evans was shot two or three times and narcotics were in his system.
Federal prosecutors said there was not evidence to show the officers used excessive force under the circumstances.
“To the contrary, there is sufficient evidence to corroborate the officers’ account that they were acting in self-defense at the time of the shooting,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
