HOLLIS — A Maine state trooper who shot and killed a local man in December, after the man first pointed a weapon at him and a fellow trooper, was justified in his use of deadly force, the Maine Office of the Attorney General has ruled.

The shooting, on Dec. 12, 2013, came after a stand-off of several hours between John Knudsen and Maine State Police troopers and the state police tactical and negotiating teams. The police were attempting to convince Knudsen, 61, who had been drinking heavily, to surrender his weapon and leave his Little Falls Road home.

Knudsen eventually came to the door, according to Attorney General Janet Mills’ report, issued Tuesday, and pointed a revolver directly at the area where Troopers Tyler Stevenson and David Coflesky were standing.

“In response to these actions, Trooper Stevenson fired a round at Mr. Knudsen, and Mr. Knudsen discharged his weapon in the direction of the two troopers,” Mills’ report states. “Trooper Stevenson fired a second round and saw Mr. Knudsen fall onto his back. The second round struck Mr. Knudsen. Emergency medical personnel were immediately on scene to administer treatment, but Mr. Knudsen died from the gunshot wound.”

The Attorney General’s office is charged with investigating any incident in which a law enforcement officer uses deadly force while performing his or her duties.

The review did not include an analysis of potential civil liability, whether administrative action is warranted or whether deadly force could have been averted, the report states.

Mills concluded that Stevenson “reasonably believed that unlawful deadly force was imminently threatened against him and against Trooper Coflesky and other troopers or persons within range of the weapon discharged by Mr. Knudsen.”

“It was reasonable for Trooper Stevenson to believe it necessary to use deadly force to protect himself and the other officers from deadly force. Trooper Stevenson acted in the defense of himself and others who were within range of, and in the line of fire of, Mr. Knudsen’s gun,” Mills’ report concluded.

The incident began on the morning of Dec. 12, when Linda Knudsen called 911 and reported her husband was pointing a handgun at his head, threatening to kill himself. She said her husband had been drinking heavily and was despondent over a leg injury that had left him impaired, according to the report. A few minutes into the conversation with the dispatcher, she reported her husband went out into the enclosed porch and fired a shot.

“Nine minutes into the 911 call, the dispatcher heard Mr. Knudsen telling his wife, ”˜The next person who comes in this driveway, I’m going to shoot one, do you understand?’ the report continued. “When his wife said she did not understand, Mr. Knudsen stated, ”˜The next bullet goes through my head,’ adding, ”˜I’m not going to kill you ”¦ because I don’t have a reason.’ He repeated the threat that he would shoot anyone who entered the driveway,” the report went on to say.

Linda Knudsen eventually left the home, but left a cordless telephone handset inside with the line open. The dispatcher spoke with Knudsen, attempting to convince him to turn himself over to police. By noon, the report indicated, it was clear that wasn’t going to happen, and the state police tactical team, as well as members of their negotiation team, which was training nearby in Sanford that day, was dispatched.

Knudsen spoke of throwing his weapon outside the window, or firing a shot to show he was armed. Lt. Jackie Theriault, who was the primary negotiator in the case, urged him not to do so.

Knudsen eventually ventured out onto the porch, and then into the doorway of his home, revolver in hand. He pointed the gun at the troopers, according to the report. Stevenson, who was stationed 266 feet away, fired a rifle shot. Knudsen returned fire, and Stevenson fired a second time.

Knudsen died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to Mills.

His blood alcohol content was .32 at the time of his death, according to the report. And although he was not driving, that amount is four times the legal limit to operate a vehicle.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.