Beverly Police Officer Cleared In October Fatal Shooting

Prosecutors say a Beverly police officer was justified when she fatally shot a man who slammed into her cruiser and another vehicle in October.

The Boston Globe reports Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett released a statement clearing Officer April Clarizia in the Oct. 10 death of 49-year-old Christopher Whitmarsh.

Blodgett's office found that the incident began with a domestic dispute reported by Whitmarsh's wife.

Whitmarsh agreed to meet his wife in the parking lot of a large office complex in Beverly, but Clarizia was dispatched to the scene along with another officer.

After Whitmarsh repeatedly rammed his vehicle into the car carrying his wife, and Clarizia's cruiser, the officer ordered him to stop.

When he didn't comply, Clarizia fatally shot Whitmarsh in the shoulder through a window.