The use of deadly force by eight members of the Colorado Springs Police Department on Dec. 13 was ruled justified by the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office on Monday, according to a news release from the office.

The District Attorney’s Office found officers were justified in their actions because deadly force was initially avoided and only used once the suspect fired his weapon toward officers a second time.

Colorado Springs Sgt. Brady Mitts and Officers Daniel Brom, Javin Samiliano, Evan Dashiell, Michael Dauchy, Nicholas Cassalia, Steven Lawson and Oswaldo Cineros were justified in their use of deadly force.

On that day, Colorado Springs police were responding to calls for service regarding an active shooter at a restaurant in the 3800 block of Astrozon Boulevard, according to the release. Employees claimed a man approached the building around 11 p.m., acting belligerently and pulling out a handgun when blocked from entering.

Surveillance footage allegedly showed the man firing into the business and then returning to his vehicle, the release stated. The man was later identified as Dean Ackerman.

The release stated El Paso County sheriff’s deputies responded to another call for service involving Ackerman earlier in the day for an apparent domestic dispute. They were unable to find him and cautioned law enforcement to use extreme caution when making contact.

When police approached his vehicle at the restaurant, an officer ordered Ackerman to put the gun down, and he refused. The release stated he then fired a round from his handgun into the roof of his vehicle, and officers did not return fire.

Ackerman allegedly pointed the gun at several different locations, including officers, and fired four rounds into the roof, which did not prompt officers to fire for a second time.

Officers decided to move an armored vehicle behind his parking spot to prevent him from driving away and position a CSPD SUV to provide additional cover, according to the release. In total, 25 officers were involved in the response, with 10 around the suspect and 15 for support and containment.

Ackerman exited the vehicle around 11:53 p.m. pointing his weapon at officers inside the armored vehicle before directing it at officers behind the SUV, the release stated. As he was doing so, Officer Tyler Koets fired a less-lethal impact round while a K9 Officer Tyler Dawson deployed pepper ball rounds that are also less lethal.

“I heard a statement that he wasn’t going to walk away, he wasn’t leaving alive or something into that matter,” Brom said during an interview with a member of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Ackerman was struck and fell to the ground while still in possession of his handgun, according to the release. He then allegedly fired a round toward CSPD officers behind a marked cruiser to the south of him and officers did not return fire.

“But at some point, he changed the angle, and almost like was trying to shoot back because he was irritated about the non-lethal they were shooting at him,” Officer Celverson Eleuterio recounted as a witness within the report.

“Seconds later,” Ackerman allegedly stood up from the ground, twisted his body and fired a round toward officers to the east of him, according to the release. Multiple officers returned fire, and Ackerman was pronounced deceased at the scene after receiving medical assistance.

Samiliano, one of the shooting officers, said during an investigation interview that they “had no other option,” and that Ackerman was a threat to officers and the community.