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DA clears officer in shooting death of gunman |
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Written by Dan Plutchak
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Thursday, 22 December 2011 16:00 |
JANESVILLE -- Rock Count District Attorney David O'Leary today cleared a town of Beloit police officer in the shooting death Nov. 6 of an gunman in a bowling alley parking lot.
O'Leary issued the following press release today:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Issued 12/22/11
Contact: David J. O’Leary, Rock County District Attorney
Phone: (608) 757-5615
Janesville, Wis. - Rock County District Attorney David J. O’Leary announced today that he has received and reviewed the investigative reports prepared by the State of Wisconsin, Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, including reports from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department, the Beloit Police Department and the Town of Beloit Police Department, concerning the death of Darryl Cooper (DOB: 06/04/1985) during a police officer involved shooting.
The incident occurred at Rex Lanes, 2547 Park Avenue, in the Town of Beloit, on November 6, 2011. At approximately 1:44 a.m., while on routine patrol of the parking lot of Rex Lanes, Sergeant Richard Felger of the Town of Beloit Police Department heard multiple gunshots coming from the parking lot. In that initial gunfire, the investigation revealed that Cooper shot and injured another victim who had gotten into an altercation with Cooper previously in the evening.
Sgt. Felger observed Cooper running from the area of these initial gun shots attempting to conceal a handgun in his pants. Sgt. Felger confronted Cooper and twice ordered Cooper to show his hands. Cooper ran from Sgt. Felger around vehicles in the parking lot. Sgt. Felger pursued Cooper. Cooper turned toward Sgt. Felger, drew his weapon, pointed it at Sgt. Felger and fired multiple shots at Sgt. Felger. When Cooper opened fire, Sgt. Felger returned fire. Sgt. Felger was shot in the leg, while Cooper was shot multiple times. Cooper was taken to the hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries.
After reviewing the reports, the autopsy findings, video and audio recordings of the incident, Wisconsin State Crime laboratory reports, and numerous eye witness statements, it is abundantly clear that Sgt. Felger acted lawfully and in accordance to his duty as a sworn law enforcement officer and was protecting not only his own life, but the lives of the numerous other civilians who were in and around the vicinity of the parking lot and who were potential victims of Cooper’s life-threatening behavior.
Cooper was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, shot three times and injured another person in the parking lot, and subsequently pointed and fired his gun at Sgt. Felger six times. Cooper was shot and killed by Sgt. Felger as a direct result of Cooper’s own actions.
District Attorney O’Leary wishes to commend Sgt. Felger for his actions in preventing further loss of life.
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