Boise Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting

BOISE, Idaho (KTVB) -- An officer who shot and killed a 26-year-old who pointed a gun at police in February will not face any criminal charges related to the incident.

Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs, who was brought in to investigate the shooting to avoid a conflict of interest, wrote that Officer Jason Green was justified in using deadly force against Michael Kenneth Casper. Officers were called out to a duplex on the corner of Malad Street and Gourley Place Feb. 16 after receiving a report that Casper was using a crowbar to break out windows. Green was the first to arrive on scene.

Police say he heard glass breaking, then heard shots fired as he walked toward the house. Two more shots were fired as Green crossed the road toward the house. Green reported seeing Casper standing near a window inside the house, holding a gun. Green shouted at Casper three times to drop his weapon, police say, but the other man "shouldered" it as if to fire.

Police say the gun was pointed out into the residential neighborhood and toward another officer who had just arrived on scene. Green fired three times at the wall in front of Casper. The suspect moved back into the home, then "forcefully shoved the barrel of the gun out the window," according to police. At that point, Green fired several more times, ultimately hitting and killing Casper.