Racine Co. District Attorney: Actions of officers involved in fatal shooting were "legal, justified"

RACINE (WITI) -- Racine County District Attorney Richard Chiapete wrote in a letter to Police Chief Arthel Howell on Monday, July 14th that the actions taken by officers in a recent officer-involved fatal shooting were "legal, justified and necessary."

Rajko Utvic

A Racine officer shot and killed Rajko Utvic on Sunday, July 6th. Initial reports indicated two Racine police officers responded to a 911 call in the 3000 block of Durand Avenue, and found Utvic armed with a knife. The reports also said Utvic refused to drop the knife, and advanced on the officers — who were ordering him to drop the weapon. Officials say officers deployed tasers on Utvic and this "had little or no effect" on him. Utvic then apparently charged the officers with his knife in hand -- was shot and killed by one of the officers.

In the letter from D.A. Chiapete, he said, "Mr. Utvic bears total culpability for this deadly for force confrontation. The officers attempted lesser force options, but were ultimately faced with a situation that placed their own lives at risk." Chiapete also said, "This was corroborated by witness statements, by the physical evidence on the scene, by the autopsy reports and by the 911 call."

The Racine County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation into this shooting.

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