Grand jury calls fatal Silverton shooting justified

Irish man was not armed when he was shot, inquiry reveals

A Silverton police officer was justified in shooting an unarmed man who was charging at him and ignoring orders to get down, a Marion County Grand Jury unanimously found Thursday.Officer Tony Gonzalez fired seven times at Silverton resident and Irish citizen Andrew James Hanlon, 20, hitting him five times, according to a press release from the Marion County District Attorney's office. Hanlon died from his gunshot wounds. Hanlon was not armed, a fact that prosecutors and police did not divulge in the weeks since the June 30 shooting.

What happened

Here is a summary of the events that unfolded during the shooting of Andrew James Hanlon, according to the Marion County District Attorney's office:

June 30: Incident begins about 11:20 p.m. when Andrew James Hanlon pounds on Silverton resident's door and refuses to go away. -Hanlon was screaming and irrational when a frightened homeowner calls police.-Police are told Hanlon was unarmed but possibly intoxicated.-Officer Tony Gonzalez finds Hanlon in a wooded area, but Hanlon refuses to surrender.-Gonzalez hears a noise that sounds like breaking glass; he tells investigators he thought Hanlon was armed with a broken bottle.-As Hanlon charges at Gonzalez, the officer retreats and fires seven shots, striking Hanlon five times.-Hanlon dies on the scene. -Investigators determine that Hanlon was unarmed when he was shot. A Marion County Grand Jury finds the shooting was justified.

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