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Prosecutor Clears Enid Officer in Fatal Shooting

ENID, Okla. (AP) — An Enid police officer has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of an armed man last month.

District Attorney Mike Fields says no criminal charges are warranted against Officer Jacob McKinley in the March 23 shooting of Jimmie Wayne Birchfield.

Fields tells the Enid News & Eagle (http://is.gd/R2JQNQ ) that the shooting happened after Birchfield threatened to shoot his 74-year-old mother, her dogs and himself. Authorities say McKinley opened fire after Birchfield pointed a loaded shotgun at another officer.

Birchfield died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Fields says the officer's actions were justified because Birchfield "posed an imminent danger" to McKinley and others.