California, Missouri Police Shooting Ruled Justified, Suspect Charged

A prosecutor says central Missouri police were justified in shooting and wounding a man accused of grabbing an airsoft rifle that is designed to look like an AK47 but shoots nonlethal projectiles.

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports that Nicholas Rodriguez was wounded Sept. 4 in the town of California as officers were serving an arrest warrant. He was charged Tuesday with second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer. The Moniteau County prosecuting attorney said in announcing that the shooting was justified that the Missouri State Highway Patrol had concluded its investigation.

The patrol says the airsoft rifle was "very realistic." The orange tip that was supposed to distinguish it from an actual firearm was covered with black electrical tape.

No attorney is listed for Rodriguez in online court records.