[chris]

On Aug. 31, 2020, at about 11 p.m., Officers Matthew Krzeptowski and Zachary Kuta were on duty, in full uniform, in an unmarked squad car. They responded to a call of suspicious persons at 1339 W. 19th Street that was later reclassified as a gang disturbance and person with a gun.

As they neared 1337 W. 19th Street, they saw a group of males. Officer Kuta knew them as gang members. Kuta saw one male in a black shirt and black face mask standing apart from the group on the sidewalk near a tree at 1337 to 1339 W. 19th Street.

Both officers saw muzzle flash from the male's direction, and Krzeptowski saw the male fire a gun at them. As the squad car stopped, the front of it was struck by gunfire. Krzeptowski returned fire, discharging 11 rounds.

The man was struck in the back of the head and fell on the south sidewalk at 1327 W. 19th Street. He was fatally wounded. A black semi-automatic handgun was recovered under a parked vehicle at 1321 W. 19th Street.

Officer Krzeptowski was exonerated from an allegation that the use of deadly force violated policy. Officers Krzeptowski and Kuta violated body-worn camera policy, and an allegation that Officer Krzeptowski did not load his firearm consistent with department policy was sustained.