This stems from a shooting in Mt. Iron back in December. Estavon Elioff died after being shot multiple times. The deputies involved were Ryan Smith and Matt Tomsich.

A two-tier outside system was conducted to review the case. The first involved retired St. Louis County attorney Vern Swanum. The second was a review from the Washington County Attorney Peter Orput.

The report indicated that there was probable cause for Elioff to be arrested for second degree assault regarding a shooting in Virginia from the day before.

The report said Elioff was confronted by deputies on December 5th in Mt. Iron. The investigation said Elioff refused to take his hand out of the front pocket of his jacket, despite numerous demands to do so. Deputies deployed a taser, which did not have an effect, according to the report.

The report said Elioff finally moved his hand out of his pocket, and put his hand out towards one of the deputies, and acted as if he was "sighting down" his extended arm as if he was preparing to fire a gun.

The deputy stepped back, and seeing something black in Elioff's hand, yelled "gun gun gun."

Both deputies fired at Elioff.

The report said they found a folding knife on the ground, afterwards.

St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin said in a release, "When confronted with the inherent threat of great bodily harm or death to themselves or others, an officer has the right and the duty to use the amount of force reasonably necessary to meet that threat. This was a death following the pursuit, confrontation, and attempt to take into custody a young man suspected of firing multiple shots into a home in Virginia, with a 9mm weapon, a little more than 24 hours earlier. A tragedy? Yes. Especially because indications point to a young Elioff feeling caught, trapped, and hopeless...and in all likelihood knowing that his gesture towards the deputies would force a professional response and cost him his life."

To see the original report and read related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website.  https://www.wdio.com/news/officer-involved-shooting-mt-iron-justified-estavon-elioff/6006111/?cat=10...