TOPEKA, Kan. — Authorities have determined that the actions of the police officers and state troopers involved in the deadly shooting of a Salina man were warranted, and no charges will be filed against them, according to prosecutor statements.

On July 24, officers from Salina responded to the residence of 44-year-old Larry Wray Jr. to execute an arrest warrant. While approaching, an officer noticed 25-year-old Jesse Wray inside a detached garage, brandishing a firearm towards them, as reported by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). It was noted that Jesse Wray also had an active warrant, prompting the officers to withdraw from the situation, as stated by the KBI.

Additional law enforcement personnel arrived on the scene, but Jesse Wray refused to comply with commands to exit the garage. After some time, smoke and flames were observed emerging from the garage, at which point the door opened and a woman exited with her hands raised. Jesse Wray followed her out and took cover behind a pickup truck in what appeared to be a shooting stance, with his hands directed towards the officers, according to the KBI statement. In response, two officers discharged nine rounds but did not hit him.

Jesse Wray then fled to the side of the garage, where he came into contact with an officer and a trooper, who subsequently fired four shots, resulting in his fatal injury. Investigators later discovered a black BB gun, fashioned to resemble a revolver, in the damaged garage, and they concluded that the fire had been intentionally set.

Saline County Prosecutor Jeffrey Abel communicated his findings to the KBI in a letter dated November 4, emphasizing that while footage clearly shows Wray did not hold a real firearm upon exiting the garage, his gestures and position were such that any reasonable officer could interpret it as if he was raising a weapon towards them. Abel stated that no charges would be filed since any reasonable officer would conclude that the use of lethal force was justified under the circumstances.

According to a funeral home obituary, Jesse Wray was identified as the son of Larry Wray.