Attorney Rachel Mitchell has declined to file charges against the police officer involved in the February 2023 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old shoplifting suspect.
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has declined to file charges against the Avondale police officer involved in the 2023 shooting death of 17-year-old Amarion Hope.
On February 21, 2023, officers responded to a report of shoplifting at the Family Dollar on Dysart Road near Buckeye Road.
According to the Avondale Police Department, the officer shot Hope twice as he fled. Police said the shooting occurred after Hope put the officer in a chokehold and tried to remove the firearm from its holster.
RELATED: Suspect dies, Avondale police officer injured in West Valley shooting
Benjamin Taylor, an attorney for the Hope family, confirmed he received notice of the decision this week from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
In September 2023, Hope's family filed a $25 million lawsuit against the police officer, the department, and the city, claiming his shooting was unjustified.
12News has reached out to Avondale Police, Peoria Police, which investigated the shooting, and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for comment.
The Avondale Police Department sent 12News the following statement:
”Now that the County Attorney's Office has completed its investigation, the Avondale Police Department will begin an administrative investigation. Due to the pending civil litigation, the city is declining further comment at this time. ”
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office released the following statement to 12News:
“Two independent expert reports and the MCAO investigation into the shooting concluded that the actions by the officers were justified in the context of the events and therefore there was no reasonable possibility of conviction.”
The police department was informed of the county attorney's decision on February 12th.
RELATED: 'He didn't deserve to die like this': Family of 17-year-old boy shot to death by Avondale police plans to file $25 million lawsuit
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