Jury clears US officer who shot unarmed Irish man

An Oregon grand jury has cleared a police officer who shot dead an unarmed Irishman during a confrontation.

Officer Tony Gonzalez fired at Andrew Hanlon seven times and hit him five times. The family of the 20-year-old victim said Mr Hanlon was mentally ill.

A statement from the Portland district attorney’s office said Officer Gonzalez shot Mr Hanlon while retreating. A witness told authorities that Mr Hanlon had been trying to strike the officer while ignoring commands to stop.

Thirteen witnesses – four police and nine civilians – gave evidence to the grand jury, said deputy district attorneys Matthew Kemmy and Douglas Hanson. Officer Gonzalez was not among them, but a video of his interview with detectives was shown.

Steve Crew, a lawyer representing Mr Hanlon’s family, told The Oregonian newspaper that last night’s ruling was “disappointing and a bit of a surprise for the family”.

Officer Gonzalez, 35, is in jail on unrelated charges after a woman and her daughter accused him of sexually abusing the underage girl several times.