Prosecutors ruled that the shooting death of 38-year-old Nathaniel Altman by Colorado Springs police Officer Carlos Pittman was justified, according to a news release from the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office on Thursday.

Pittman told investigators that he fired three times at Altman, who was running away, because he “100 percent” believed Altman would engage with civilians or officers to cause “a mass casualty incident.”

On March 31, officers responded to the 100 block of North Nevada Avenue after a report of a man stealing items out of vehicles behind CityROCK, an indoor climbing facility, according to the release. The emergency caller had confronted the suspect, causing him to allegedly point a gun at him.

Pittman and other officers arrived around 2:30 p.m. and found Altman “rummaging” through a white Toyota RAV4, the release states. He did not comply with verbal commands to show his hands and officers announced he was under arrest.

As other officers contacted Altman, Pittman maneuvered to provide lethal cover for them, according to the release. Other officers confirmed Altman was carrying a firearm as he allegedly continued to refuse their commands to show his hands.

Altman then began running toward Pikes Peak Avenue in the direction of an occupied vehicle with other bystanders in the area. That caused CSPD Officer Michael Jelmo to yell, “He’s got a gun” twice. Pittman responded by firing three times, the release states.

Altman received medical aid after being struck twice but was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers recovered a Beretta BU9 Nano with one round in the chamber and five in the magazine.

“He could have killed those guys in the vehicles or the individuals, the bystanders that were on the, the street because of how packed it was — or one of us,” Pittman told investigators.

The district attorney’s office found Pittman had “an objectively reasonable belief” that Altman posed a threat to those in the area, according to the release. Altman’s speed and Pittman’s distance from him deemed less-lethal options “impracticable and ineffective.”

The justification of Pittman’s use of deadly force means prosecutors will not file charges against him.