A grand jury has determined two Syracuse Police officers were justified in their use of deadly force last month when they shot and killed 33-year-old Steven Smith.

Police said Smith was armed with a gun when he died during a confrontation with Syracuse police at the Sunoco on North State Street.

On Friday, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick laid out a timeline of what happened that night and showed body camera footage from the two officers involved.

He said the suspect ignored commands to drop his gun and fired twice at officers before they shot back at him. Then the district attorney said Smith shot at officers again, which is when they opened fire a second time. Sergeant Jason Wells and Officer Kenneth Sheehan shot at Smith a total of 21 times. 

“Once he discharges that weapon, for lack of a better phrase, all bets are off," said Fitzpatrick. "It then becomes a life or death struggle between him and the officers.”

The autopsy shows Smith was shot three times, according to Fitzpatrick. He was also hit by bullets ricocheting off nearby trash bins.

Smith had an "astronomical" amount of PCP in his system at the time of the shooting, Fitzpatrick said.

"I've heard frequently in this case and in many other cases, 'Why didn't you shoot him in the leg,' you know, 'Why didn't you tase him?' Well based on the level of PCP in his system, it's highly unlikely that tasing him would have had any effect on him. And in addition to that, I don't think he's going to hold his gun at his side while the officer walks up to get at a sufficient distance to tase him," Fitzpatrick said Friday.

Smith's family has been vocal about the need for justice in his case.

Fitzpatrick said he met Smith's family and showed them the video evidence, which isn't something he normally does. He said the meeting was sobering. 

“It was not a rancorous conversation," said Fitzpatrick. "It was emotional. Not everybody was satisfied when they left the room, but Mr. and Mrs. Smith are mourning the loss of a child. No parent should have a child predecease them.”

This is the sixth officer-involved shooting the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office has investigated this year. In the past, there had been one case every other year or so, according to Fitzpatrick. 

"I don’t think that’s just a spike or just a coincidence," said Fitzpatrick." I think there’s a national malaise that we’re suffering through — a lack of respect and decency toward law enforcement.”

Fitzpatrick said they’ll never know why Smith took part in such a violent confrontation.