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D.A. Rules Officers Justified In East Busway Shooting

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office has ruled that the officers who shot and killed a man on the East Busway in January were justified.

Port Authority officers fatally shot 37-year-old Bruce Kelley Jr. on January 31 after he pulled out a four-inch knife and stabbed a police K-9 to death.

The incident happened after Kelley Jr. and his father, Bruce Kelley Sr., were seen drinking near a gazebo along a path near the East Busway.

In February, District Attorney Stephen Zappala released surveillance video of a portion of the confrontation between Kelley and the police.

In that video, Zappala says only one of the officers was seen with his gun drawn and pointed. The other officers in the video, Zappala said, had Tasers or pepper spray.

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Following the District Attorney's Office ruling, the Port Authority announced that the sergeant and officer involved in the shooting returned to duty Tuesday.

In a statement, Port Authority CEO Ellen McLean said: "We again extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Bruce Kelley, Jr. This was a tragic outcome for everyone involved and no words can change that. We intend to move forward from here by taking positive steps to make this a better environment for the community."

Port Authority officials say they have reviewed their policies and procedures in the wake of the incident.

The statement goes on to say: "While the department was mourning the death of an officer, in hindsight, we shouldn't have had the type of service and procession held for K-9 officer Aren. We regret the insensitivity to the Kelley family during their time of mourning."

They plan to continue increasing their community involvement in the area where the incident took place. Officials also say their officers have had Crisis Intervention Training, and they will also have an officer train in Mental Health First Aid.

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