Prosecutors Clear Officers in Fatal Shootings in Aurora, Lakewood

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced no charges will be filed against deputies involved in the 2023 fatal shooting of James Moriarty and K-9 Hudson following a high-speed chase. Moriarty, suspected of a carjacking and armed with a paintball gun, was shot after displaying the weapon post-crash, with body camera footage showing deputies firing 18 shots. Despite a deputy turning off his camera audio in violation of protocol, disciplinary action, not charges, will be pursued. Similarly, Thornton police officers in Colorado were not charged for the 2024 shooting deaths of Joby Vigil and Jasmine Castro after a car chase, due to the DA's belief that a jury conviction was unlikely. The officers, in unmarked vehicles, engaged after Castro fired at them, leading to the fatal response. Both cases highlight the complexities and challenges in prosecuting police use-of-force incidents, with prosecutors citing justification and legal standards as key factors in their decisions.