After an investigation, the Saline County Attorney said Friday no criminal charges will be filed against a Salina police officer and a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper for the death of a man during a confrontation last July.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation looked into the death on July 24th of 25-year-old Jesse Wray during an incident at a Salina home.  Officers went to the home to arrest Wray on a warrant, when Wray was seen pointing a gun at them from a detached garage.   The officers retreated and called for assistance, and more Salina officers with KHP troopers arrived at the scene.

After a period of time, smoke and flames were seen coming from the garage and a woman ran out, followed by Wray.    Police said officers fired at Wray when he crouched behind a pickup truck in a driveway, in what appeared to be a shooting stance.  Wray was not hit by the gunfire, and he ran to the west side of the garage where he was confronted by a Salina officer and a KHP trooper.  They fired four shots and Wray was killed.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal investigated the garage fire and determined that it was intentionally set.  A BB gun that was manufactured to look like a real gun was found inside the garage.

The KBI received a letter from Saline County Attorney Jeffrey Abel on his review of the case, with references to videos from body-worn cameras, dashboard cameras and surveillance cameras.    Abel said in the letter, “The video is clear that there is not a gun in his hand at this time [when Wray exits the garage and takes position], however, the gesture and body posture would lead any reasonable person to believe that a gun was being raised and pointed at officers…Both officers stated they heard shots from a handgun and both attributed those shots to Wray, as they knew he had a gun and heard yelling.”  Abel went on to say that “Under Kansas law, and the facts of the case, I conclude that the officers are immune from prosecution and no criminal charges can be filed against the officers because any reasonable officer would believe that the use of deadly force was justified.”