DA: Aurora police officer justified when he shot armed man

AURORA, Colo. (AP) -- Prosecutors say an Aurora police officer was justified when he shot a man accused of pulling a gun as he ran from a traffic stop.

Arapahoe County District Attorney Jason Siers says he believes the officer feared for his life when he shot Natneal Gebretsadik in May.

The Aurora Sentinel reports Gebretsadik was one of four people in a car that officers pulled over for having a defective tail light. Police say they smelled marijuana and while they searched other passengers, Gebretsadik ran away.

Gebretsadik, who is accused of pulling a gun during a foot chase, was shot in the buttocks. He is facing an assault charge.

Gebretsadik's attorney told police his client had a gun but threw it away several seconds before he was shot. Investigators didn't turn up any evidence backing that claim.