Two police officers who shot and killed a Flagstaff man in August have been cleared of criminal responsibility and returned to duty, Flagstaff’s mayor announced.

Flagstaff Police Officer Shawn Gilleland and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer William Willis did not commit any criminal violations in the shooting, according to a review by the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office. That office was asked to review the case to avoid potential conflicts with Coconino County officials.

Kyle Garcia, 23, was shot and killed after the two gang officers pulled him over for playing his stereo too loudly.

The officers said after they got out of their car and Garcia accelerated towards Willis. Both officers said they fired in self-defense.

The Yavapai County review of the evidence, “… indicates the officers’ actions were ‘justifiable responses’ under state law to the aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument committed against them by Mr. Garcia,” stated a press release by the Flagstaff Police Department.

The Garcia family rejected the findings as biased. A family statement said they had hired a Phoenix lawyer to independently review the shooting.

KVOA