Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins says it appears Saint Joseph Police Officer Patrick Zeamer was allowed under Missouri law to use deadly force in the fatal shooting of John Weipert March 10.

Scroggins says his review of the evidence indicates that Weipert ignored police orders to stop and bent to pick up a handgun. That’s when Zeamer fired four shots with a rifle. Two bullets missed, but two caused fatal injuries to Weipert.

The shooting occurred during a standoff at 1510 South 41st Street. Scroggins says his findings are preliminary because he is still waiting for final autopsy and toxicology results, which are not expected for another eight weeks.