Judge: Reading Cop Took 'Unnecessary Risk’ In Fatal Shooting

READING, MA — A judge rejected Reading police officer Erik Drauschke's claim that he "was facing a deadly threat" and had no choice but to fire at Alan Greenough in a fatal 2018 shooting, according to a Boston Globe report.

Drauschke was indicted on one charge of manslaughter by a Middlesex County grand jury Sept. 23.

Woburn District Court Judge Stacey J. Fortes wrote in findings presented to prosecutors in February that "she didn’t accept Drauschke’s testimony that he had no choice but to shoot Greenough," the Globe reported.

Fortes did not find that Drauschke "acted with malice."

>>Read more from the Boston Globe.

In the Feb. 2018 incident, Drauschke was one of several officers searching for Greenough, who had fled his apartment after officers responded to a report of a domestic assault on Feb. 3, 2018, the district attorney's office said Sept. 23. Greenough had been accused of assaulting two other residents, as well as assaulting the same two people the previous night, police said.

Drauschke was alone when he found Greenough did not wait for backup to arrive before opening the door of Greenough's car, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said Drauschke shot twice as Greenough rushed out of the car with his hands in a sweatshirt pocket, yelling, "Shoot me, shoot me!"

Drauschke could also have used a lower level of force against Greenough, who was unarmed, Fortes wrote.

The findings were the result of an inquest requested by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. The inquest included interviews with dozens of witnesses, according to the Globe report.

Drauschke was placed on unpaid administrative leave after he was indicted. The 14-year veteran of the Reading Police Department had been on paid administrative leave since the day of the shooting.