The use of deadly force by law enforcement against the suspect who shot and killed a Syracuse police officer and Onondaga County sheriff’s deputy earlier this year was justified, an investigation by the state attorney general’s office determined in their final report released Wednesday.

Syracuse Police officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga County Sheriff Lt. Michael Hoosock were killed in a shooting in April while trying to apprehend a suspect, Christopher Murphy, at a home on Darien Drive in the town of Salina.

The deadly incident started when city police officers attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle that had been traveling more than 100 mph but the driver sped away. Law enforcement tracked the plates to a home on Darien Drive in Salina. While they were outside of the home, Murphy came out and opened fire, officials said.

Jensen and Hoosock were struck and later died from their injuries. Jensen and a second Syracuse Police officer, John Canestrare, shot Murphy when he continued firing.

According to the AG report, Canestrare was not aware that Murphy had already shot and killed Hoosock but witnessed Murphy use deadly physical force against Jensen. Murphy was standing in the street and shooting at Jensen when Canestrare first fired his weapon, the report said. Murphy was still holding the rifle even after he fell to the ground from being shot.

In his written statement, Canestrare said he fired “at the shooter to stop him from shooting,” telling investigators he feared for his own safety, as well as the safety of other officers and innocent civilians.

A police officer may use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another, according to New York’s justification law. Since Murphy was firing a semiautomatic rifle, killed two law enforcement officers and exchanged gunfire with other officers, the AG’s Office of Special Investigation concluded that the officers’ use of deadly physical force against Murphy was justified.

As a result, the office determined no criminal charges would be pursued in this case.

As per a state law passed in 2020, the New York attorney general’s office is required to investigate any incident in which a member of law enforcement is reported to have caused the death of a person by act or omission.