THORNTON, N.H. – Deputy Attorney General Jane E. Young concluded that Thornton Police officer Matthew Yao was justified in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Ethan Freeman in October of 2020.
Young said “everything that Mr. Freeman had said and done up to that point at his apartment was consistent with the threats that he had voiced to kill Officer Yao. Moreover, Mr. Freeman had both the opportunity and ability to carry out those death threats.”
Freeman was suffering from mental health issues but according to the report: “The Attorney General’s office does not investigate or opine on the particular procedures or tactics used by law enforcement officers. Instead, the Attorney General Office’s review of officer-involved use of deadly force incidents consists of a criminal investigation, which is limited to determining whether officers complied with applicable law.”
Video evidence in the case was released Tuesday.
An autopsy revealed Freeman had THC (marijuana) in his system but no alcohol or other drugs.
Read the full report from the DA here.
