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Officers who shot and killed a 16-year-old East Palo Alto boy while investigating an earlier robbery and shooting in December will not be prosecuted, San Mateo County District Attorney James Fox announced today.
On Dec. 22, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Peter Ralls and Menlo Park police Officer Aaron Dixon responded to reports of a robbery on Alberni Street and a shooting on Newbridge Street in East Palo Alto. They came to the assistance of another Menlo Park police officer who was attempting to detain Maikeli Iongi, 16, of East Palo Alto.
According to police, Iongi matched a description of one of three suspects given by the robbery victims, and when approached by the officer, drew a handgun.
Ralls and Dixon believed the third officer was going to be shot by Iongi and each fired several times, killing Iongi.
Iongi fired two shots during the exchange but none of the officers were struck, police reported.
An investigation by East Palo Alto police and the district attorney’s office concluded that the use of lethal force by Ralls and Dixon “was a lawful response” and “did not involve any criminal conduct” by the two officers, according to a statement from Fox.
A March 6 letter from Fox to Sheriff Greg Munks and Menlo Park Police Chief Bruce Goitia further stated that the use of lethal force “was justifiable and that the actions of the involved police officers complied with the highest standards of professionalism.”