“Fatal Watertown Shooting: No Charges Filed Against Officers Involved, Victim Identified as Justin Whitten”

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Bodycam footage from a police shooting in Watertown, Wisconsin has been released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The footage shows the events leading up to the fatal shooting, which resulted in no criminal charges for the officers involved.

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WATERTOWN, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice announced on Tuesday, December 19 that no criminal charges will be filed against the officers involved in a fatal shooting incident in Watertown.

Following the shooting, the officers, James Simon and Nathan Zubke, were placed on administrative leave in accordance with agency policy.

The incident began when the police responded to a criminal damage to property report on the morning of October 18. The suspect, identified as Justin Whitten, managed to flee the apartment before the officers arrived. However, he was later found in a parking lot on Tower Drive.

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The Jefferson County District Attorney, Monica Hall, released her determination not to charge the officers. In her report, Hall explained that the officers were searching for Whitten as part of an ongoing domestic abuse investigation and believed that he was armed. She also noted that Whitten had evaded the police earlier that day.

Body camera footage reveals that Simon parked his vehicle, exited his squad car, ordered Whitten to the ground, and fired two shots. The Wisconsin Department of Justice stated that Whitten turned towards the officers with a gun. Zubke and other officers were already present at the scene.

Police scene in Watertown near Western and Tower

According to the bodycam footage, Simon instructed Whitten not to move after he had already dropped to the ground. Hall’s report mentioned that Whitten rolled onto his back away from the gun, prompting Simon to move the weapon away from him and call for medical assistance. Unfortunately, Whitten succumbed to his injuries at the scene. No other individuals were harmed during the incident.

The shooting took place near Luther Preparatory School, but school administrators confirmed that no students or staff were involved or in danger during the incident.