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No charges against officers in shooting of East Palo Alto teen

Officer 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 Tuesday.

On Dec. 22, San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Peter Ralls and Menlo Park police officer Aaron Dixon, responding to reports of a robbery on Alberni Street and a shooting on Newbridge Street in East Palo Alto, came to assist another Menlo Park police officer who was attempting to detain Maikeli Iongi, 16, of East Palo Alto.

According to police, Mr. Iongi matched a description of one of three suspects given by the robbery victims, and when approached by the officer, drew a handgun.

Observing this, officers Ralls and Dixon believed the officer was going to be shot by Mr. Iongi and Dixon fired several times, killing Iongi, the district attorney's office reported.

Iongi fired two shots before the police fired 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."

— Bay City News Service