No charges filed in Korryn Gaines shooting

No criminal charges will be filed in the shooting death of Korryn Gaines by a Baltimore County police officer last month, the county’s chief prosecutor announced Wednesday.

State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger informed Gaines’ family and their lawyers of the decision during a meeting in Towson. He also sent a letter to the county Police Department, writing that the officer who killed the 23-year-old Randallstown woman at the end of an hours-long standoff Aug. 1 fired the fatal shots because he feared for his safety when Gaines pointed a shotgun at officers.

“Based upon all of the circumstances, it is determined that this shooting was justified and the State will take no further action,” Shellenberger wrote.

When the officer — whom police have identified as Officer 1st Class Ruby — fired at Gaines, healso struck Gaines’ 5-year-old son, Kodi.

Shellenberger said in an interview Wednesday that investigators believe the bullet that hit Kodi first went through his mother.

Gaines’ family members and their lawyers said they were not surprised by the prosecutor’s decision, but still disappointed.

The death ofGaines, another in a series of African-Americans killed in a confrontation with police, drew attention from around the country and sparked protests.

In an interview, Shellenberger said, “No police officer wakes up in this county any day hoping that they’re going to use their weapon.

“They wake up every day hoping that they can help someone or solve a crime,” he said. “You cannot expect to point a gun at a police officer and not have it end badly. And that’s what happened in this case.”