PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine attorney general's office has issued a ruling over a deadly shooting in December, when two Portland officers shot and killed a man while responding to a call about an alleged assault.
The decision by Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey was issued Friday, ruling that two Portland police officers, Jacob Webster and Jordin Jackson, acted reasonably in their use of deadly force on Dec. 17, 2023, when they shot and killed 42-year-old Kyle Desmarais.
That night, Portland police were responding to a call around 11:40 p.m. about a report that an aggravated assault involving a handgun was in progress. The suspect reportedly fled the area and was found by police traveling south on Interstate 295. Officers then initiated a traffic stop on the Exit 2 offramp in South Portland.
Police said in a release that when they were attempting to communicate with Desmaris, he exited the vehicle, pointed a gun at them, and began shooting.
According to the investigation, Desmarais shot 11 rounds, which struck both police vehicles at the scene. Webster and Jackson then returned fire, striking Desmarais in the incident. The two officers then performed first aid, but Desmarais was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries in the shooting. The officers were not injured during the incident, the release stated.
“When Officers Webster and Jackson shot Mr. Desmarais, they reasonably believed that Mr. Desmarais posed an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to each of them," Frey stated in the ruling.
"All the facts and circumstances point to the conclusion that Officers Webster and Jackson reasonably believed they were acting in defense of themselves and each other at the time they used deadly force," Frey continued.
The Portland Police Department conducted its own internal review of the incident.
“This is a very difficult situation for all involved,” Portland police Chief Mark Dubois, said. “Our officers were put in an extremely dangerous situation as they were both taking gunfire but acted appropriately based on their extensive training.”