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ELKO, Nev. (AP) — Elko County's district attorney says a fatal police shooting in November was justifiable homicide.
The Elko Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1ITuM3k) Elko police officer Jake Eisinger responded to a report of a fight and found Tabanico "Tommy" Pirtle grappling over a rifle with two women.
Pirtle ended up with the gun. When he didn't respond to Eisinger's repeated requests that he drop the weapon, the officer fired and hit Pirtle five times.
The women may have been trying to get the weapon from the former military member because he was threatening suicide.
A toxicology report shows Pirtle's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.
The death prompted the Elko Police Department to begin talks with local agencies in an effort to ensure access to veterans' services.
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Information from: Elko Daily Free Press, http://www.elkodaily.com
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