The Columbia Township police officer involved in a fatal shooting back in March will not face charges, Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka announced Friday.
The shooting happened in the early hours of March 31 in Columbia Township in Jackson County.
Officer Ben Hovarter responded to a call of a man having a seizure. When Hovarter arrived at the scene, he was attacked by a naked Erik Nielsen. Officer Hovarter attempted to pacify Nielsen with an electroshock weapon twice without success. Nielsen then went after the Hovarter with an axe. That’s when the officer fatally shot Nielson three times.
Hovarter was placed on administrative leave.
Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka said that the shooting was justified as self-defense.
The incident remains under internal review within the Columbia Township Police Department.
