Two Wilmington police officers were justified in firing their guns at a suspect during a January traffic stop, according to a report released Monday by the state Attorney General's office. The officer-involved shooting left 24-year-old Marvin Jones of Georgia paralyzed, and the NAACP of Delaware called for an investigation after Wilmington Police initially said Jones had fired at officers first, then later said he'd only pulled a gun, not fired it.
Deputy Attorney General Allison Reardon's report corroborates that story. It details how officers struggled with Jones as he attempted to flee during the traffic stop, and says they saw a gun in his hand. Officer Sean Nolan allegedly fired three shots. Officer Gaetan MacNamara, believing some of those shots had come from Jones, fired once more. The incident was captured on video by a surveillance camera across the street.
Reardon's report concludes that the officers were reasonable to fear for their lives, and says they should not be subject to criminal prosecution.
The report does not determine whether the officers acted within department policy. A police spokeswoman said Monday that they'd completed an internal investigation and sent it to the city solicitor's office for final approval.