Statement Regarding the Death of Brandon Coleman

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, released the following statement today:

“In October 2013, the United States Attorney’s Office opened a preliminary inquiry regarding the death of Brandon Coleman, who was fatally shot last May. The inquiry was opened at the request of the NAACP following the declination of criminal prosecution by the Boone County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney. The FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division have thoroughly examined the evidence to determine whether a federally prosecutable criminal civil rights violation or other federal criminal offense occurred. The preliminary inquiry is now closed and no further federal action is warranted. No criminal charges have been filed and no federal civil action will be pursued.

“It is the policy of the Department of Justice that we shall not respond to questions about the status or existence of an investigation. However, due to the substantial publicity received by the allegations in this case, and in light of the fact that the request for our office to investigate became a matter of public concern, I have determined that this release of information is in the public's interest.

“This is in accordance with the United States Attorneys Manual, Section 1-7.530, Disclosure of Information Concerning Ongoing Investigations: ‘In matters that have already received substantial publicity, or about which the community needs to be reassured that the appropriate law enforcement agency is investigating the incident, or where release of information is necessary to protect the public interest, safety, or welfare, comments about or confirmation of an ongoing investigation may need to be made.’

“No additional comment will be made regarding this issue.”