By Greg Bolt
The Register-Guard
EUGENE, Ore. — A Eugene police officer acted “heroically and brilliantly” when he tackled and was forced to fatally shoot an armed man near Churchill High School last month, the Lane County district attorney announced Thursday.
The ruling by Alex Gardner clears officer Aaron Johns of any wrongdoing in the Nov. 20 incident that left 44-year-old Christopher Koziatek dead from five gunshot wounds. Johns, a popular school resource officer at Churchill, is expected to return to that post when classes resume after the holidays.
At a county courthouse news briefing, Gardner and Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns said Johns faced one of the most dangerous and frightening situations an officer could imagine, and yet had the presence of mind to radio for help and have the school placed on lockdown even as he rushed toward the fatal encounter.
Full Story: Eugene police officer ‘heroic’ in shooting