Three Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies were found justified Tuesday in the 2024 shooting of a man who charged at them while carrying a hatchet.

Deputies Eric Dobitz, Brandon Reinhardt and Claudio Hernandez face no criminal charges for shooting and killing Micah McCartney during a suicidal welfare check on Nov. 30, 2024, according to a Tuesday decision letter from 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason. Mason ruled the use of deadly force justified.

One of McCartney’s roommates placed the initial call for service, telling deputies that the man was suicidal: he was trying to put a plastic bag over his head, had taken a number of pills and was trying to get inside a locked room that had guns inside, according to the letter. The roommate added that McCartney was angry and likely would be aggressive toward responders.

Several deputies responded to McCartney’s residence, located in the 7600 block of Heather Place in Denver, around 4:49 p.m., when they met two of the man’s roommates — identified in the letter only by the initials T.T. and C.H. to protect their identities — outside, according to the letter. The roommates told police that there were two handguns, a rifle and a shotgun inside the home.

Reinhardt also contacted McCartney’s mother, who said that he had sent her a text message that afternoon saying he no longer wanted to live, according to the letter. McCartney also did not respond to multiple efforts to contact him by cellphone.

About half an hour after police responded, Hernandez began making announcements over a public address system to try and speak to McCartney, who was still inside the home, according to the letter.

“Micah this is the police … we’re concerned for you … we’re here to help … you’re not going to get in trouble … please come out with your hands up,” Hernandez said.

McCartney responded from inside, but deputies could not hear what he was saying; Hernandez reiterated over the address system as much, according to the letter.

Around 5:20 p.m., McCartney opened the door and raised his middle finger on each hand in the direction of the deputies, according to the letter.

“Get the f–k out of here,” McCartney said to the crowd before quickly closing the door to the house, according to the letter. Hernandez then again told McCartney over the address system that they were not leaving and needed to ensure he was safe.

Moments later, McCartney again opened the door and walked outside the house with a hatchet in his hand, yelling at officers to leave, according to the letter. Hernandez told McCartney to drop the weapon and said that if he got closer, he would be shot.

“F–king make me you piece of s–t,” McCartney said in response.

McCartney continued to walk toward the deputies with the hatchet raised and screaming, according to the letter. It was at that point when Reinhardt, Hernandez and Dobitz, all believing that McCartney posed an immediate threat and fearing for the safety of their fellow officers, fired their weapons at the man.

Two other officers on the scene, Eduardo Chavez and Ruben Madera, did not fire their weapons, according to the letter. Chavez had an unknown backdrop and Madera’s gun malfunctioned and did not discharge.

The deputies continued firing at McCartney until he was on the ground; Dobitz heard the man say “kill me” while responders gave him aid on the scene, according to the letter. McCartney was taken to Mountain Ridge Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Because the officers tried several tactics to avoid using force, including trying to communicate with McCartney over the phone and using the public address system, as well as telling him to drop his weapon, Mason found that they only used violence when all other measures had failed.

“While the loss of life is unfortunate and tragic, the circumstances do not support the filing of criminal charges against the officers,” Mason wrote. “On the contrary, the officers responded in a reasonable and appropriate manner and I find their actions to be legally justified.”