Prosecutor: Police Justified In Fatal Shooting Of Ruben Urbina, 15, In Haymarket (New Updates) ICYMI

HAYMARKET, VA — Prince William County Police were justified in fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy late last Friday morning in the 6800 block of Hartzell Hill Lane, Prince William County commonwealth's attorney Paul Ebert announced Tuesday. "Police," he said, "were in fear of bodily harm or death."

Ebert said an investigation found that the boy, Ruben Urbina, had mental-health issues, and that police were told he had attempted to hang himself the previous evening. Prince William County police chief Barry Barnard said the shooting was "within our guidelines and within our policies." He added that several witnesses not associated with police verified the boy ignored multiple commands to put down a crowbar they already had seem him use to assault his brother's girlfriend.

Officers initially responded to the scene after the boy called them, said he had a bomb strapped to his chest and was holding his mother hostage. When police arrived, they spotted him in front of the residence. He had a crowbar and began walking toward them in a threatening matter.

They told him multiple times to drop the crowbar. He refused and one of the officers fatally shot him in the upper body. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

An autopsy was conducted Saturday by the Medical Examiner's Office, which determined Urbina died from the two shots fired by the officer. He was identified as Robery Choyce, 35, who's been on the force for seven years. He had not been involved in any previous officer-involved shootings.

A standard independent investigation is being conducted by the Prince William County Police office of professional standards. The department's Use of Deadly Force Review Board will issue a final report.

Image via Prince William County Police