No Charges for North Carolina Officers in Fatal Shooting of Man with Fake Gun

Two undercover police officers will not face charges in the fatal shooting of a man who threatened people with a fake gun at a North Carolina convenience store, officials said Monday.

Surveillance video released that day shows suspect Derrick Manigault waving what looked like a gun and making threats inside Jakobs Food Mart in Gastonia on Jan. 10. The officers, there for a routine alcohol compliance check, opened fire and killed him.

Manigault had argued with another customer outside the store. The dispute continued inside, where video captured him yelling, "You trying to lose your life tonight?"

A detective then fired his weapon, according to Gastonia police. The department said he acted "to protect himself and others in the store." Manigault ran outside still holding the item, video showed, looking back with it raised in his right hand.

Scene evidence later confirmed the gun was a fake designed to resemble a real firearm.

The officers went on administrative leave after the shooting, following state protocol, while the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation probed the incident.

Gaston County District Attorney Andrew Murray's report, issued after months of review, concluded the deadly force was "legally justified, and does not warrant criminal charges."

It added that "the actions of Derrick Manigault create an inherent reasonable doubt as to whether the officers involved acted justifiably in self-defense and in defense of others."

"Any loss of life is tragic, but on the night of January 10, as seen in the video, it was Mr. Manigault who put this sequence of events into motion," Gastonia Police Chief Trent Conard said in a statement. "As the video depicts, Mr. Manigault’s gun was a realistic replica firearm. Our officers acted quickly to protect themselves and the other citizens believing that Mr. Manigault’s weapon was real."

Manigault's widow, Rebecca Insley, said in a statement to Fox News Digital: "My family and I were heartbroken all over again at the DA’s decision. The subsequent report and even footage that has been released does not tell the whole story — it was carefully selected to tell their narrative. About 95% of the interaction my husband had that night with the two officers happened outside of the store. There are gross omissions, blatant discrepancies, and outright falsehoods. I will not stop until the whole story and the truth are told, and we have justice for Derrick."

Fox News Digital contacted Gastonia police and the Gaston County District Attorney's Office for comment.