Officials say the Milwaukee man shot and killed by police during an altercation in an Appleton bar was an innocent bystander. The Outagamie County District Attorney announced Friday, June 2nd that the officer who fatally shot Jimmie Sanders, acted appropriately given the situation.
An attorney for Sanders’ family says they’re going to fight the decision.
Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider calls it a “significant and tragic event.”
Fox 6 reports that 33-year-old Jimmie Sanders of Milwaukee was an innocent bystander in Jack’s Apple Pub when Lt. Jay Steinke fired four gunshots. Steinke was responding to a report of gunfire inside the bar during a fight.
Schneider says Steinke shot the man with the gun, Henry Nellum of Milwaukee, but that gunfire also struck and killed Sanders. The DA says Steinke acted appropriately given the threat and will not face any charges.
“Nellum running towards him, towards the State St. door with a gun in his hand,” Schneider said. “And fired four shots at Nellum in approximately 1.5 seconds.”
Nellum will be charged with felony murder.
Protests have occurred since the shooting with the friends and family demanding to know why Sanders was killed and did not have a weapon.
The Green Bay Police Department conducted the investigation.
The district attorney said body cameras and surveillance cameras from the bar captured the entire incident. But she said releasing the footage now would compromise the case.
Lt. Steinke has been with the Appleton Police Department for 29 years.