Off-duty Tacoma officer cleared in fatal shooting

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A Pierce County prosecutor has determined that an off-duty officer was justified in the fatal shooting of a man police say refused to drop his gun after stealing a woman's cellphone.

The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said in a news release Wednesday that after reviewing several completed investigations, prosecutor Mark Lindquist concluded the death of 40-year-old Jason Dion Galaviz was justifiable homicide under state law.

Tacoma police officer Dwaine Dakarai shot Galaviz Aug. 5 after seeing the theft while driving by. Witnesses chased Galaviz to a truck and were struggling with him when Galaviz reportedly pulled a gun.

Galaviz reportedly pointed the gun at Dakarai, who fired one shot after Galaviz didn't comply with an order to drop his weapon.

Galaviz was pronounced dead at a hospital.