Prosecutors decline charges against officers in fatal Chisholm shooting

Prosecutors say they will not file charges against the law enforcement officers involved in the fatal shooting of a Chisholm man in April.

The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office said Friday that it found no basis for criminal charges against St. Louis County deputies Cody Dillinger and Gavin Nichols – or against Virginia police officer Nicholas Grivna – in the shooting of Michael David Johnson, according to affiliate WDIO-TV.

RELATED: Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting in Chisolm identified 

As authorities searched for Johnson in the early morning hours of April 20 due to a felony stalking charge, they found his vehicle in Chisholm and tracked him to a home on Central Avenue South. However, authorities say Johnson refused to come out of the home.

After a door to the home was forcibly opened, officers saw Johnson with a knife and told him to drop the weapon. When he refused and came toward officers, Nichols fired two less-lethal rounds but failed to stop Johnson, authorities said.

After Johnson threw a tank, revealing a knife in his other hand too, he continued to come toward the officers, and Dillinger and Grivna fired gunshots at him. First aid was provided, but Johnson was pronounced dead.

“First, we extend our condolences to Michael Johnson’s family and friends for the loss of their loved one. Second, we thank the BCA for conducting a thorough investigation of this case,” St. Louis County Attorney Kimberly Maki said Friday.

Maki continued, “The authority to use deadly force is a critical responsibility that must be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity. Here, while we mourn the loss of human life, we have concluded that the actions taken by law enforcement in this incident were in accordance with the ‘reasonable officer’ standard set forth in Minnesota law.”