Prosecutors: Fatal shooting by officer justified

TORRINGTON, Conn. (AP) — A state's attorney's investigation has found that a Connecticut state trooper was justified last July in the fatal shooting of a Torrington man who charged him with a hunting knife on Route 8 as motorists looked on.

The investigation found that Lt. Clayton Brown retreated from Frank Escribano four times as he ordered him to drop the knife. Prosecutors say Brown opened fire with a single gunshot when he was concerned for the safety of himself and motorists.

The 78-year-old Escribano had a history of mental issues. An autopsy found he had Alzheimer's disease, though there had not been a formal diagnosis before his death.

Escribano died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Brown came upon Escribano after seeing him walking along the shoulder of northbound Route 8.