The Aurora Police Department officer who shot and killed Rashaud Johnson was justified in his use of deadly force.

That’s according to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which investigated the case for more than a year and reviewed a Critical Incident Response Team investigation, according to the decision letter Thursday.

Johnson, 32, was shot by Ofc. Brandon Mills on May 12, 2025, after Aurora police got a 911 call about a person trespassing at an off-site airport parking lot.

He was unarmed and experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting, his family said. Police claimed Johnson rushed Mills and tried to grab his gun.

The District Attorney’s decision letter said the officer was justified in using deadly force and that no criminal charges would be filed against him.

Under Colorado law, police officers can use any amount of force, including deadly force, that is “necessary and reasonable.”

Mills attempted nonviolent de-escalation and tried to engage in conversation with Johnson, who did not respond and feared for his life, the letter said.

Johnson continuously used unlawful physical force against Mills, did not listen to commands and charged at Mills twice, trying to take his weapons and remove his bulletproof vest, the letter added as reasoning for finding the shooting justified.

“The loss of Mr. Johnson’s life is tragic,” the letter said. “I find that an objectively reasonable officer, confronted with these same circumstances, would reasonably conclude that the use of lethal force was necessary.”

The incident began with multiple 911 calls between 3 and 5 p.m. from employees at The Parking Spot, in the 19900 block of East 56th Avenue, saying Johnson entered their building, drank water, then left and started wandering around the lot trying to open empty car doors.

The callers later told dispatchers Johnson was trying to fight them and that he was not armed.

Johnson lived about a half mile from the parking lot, his parents said at a news conference after the incident. His grandmother, who he visited frequently, also lives nearby, his family said.

Mills responded around 5:15 p.m. and tried to talk to Johnson.

In Mills’ body camera footage, the officer is heard asking Johnson what is wrong. Johnson doesn’t appear to respond, then is seen running toward Mills and pushing him.

Mills hits him with a baton, then with a taser, before Johnson pushes him to the ground. There is a tussle on the ground, during which time Mills said Johnson tried to grab his gun and pull his vest off. Mills is heard in the footage yelling for help.

Mills gets up and pulls out his gun, yelling at Johnson to “get on the ground or I’m gonna shoot you.”

Johnson does not follow the command, instead walking toward Mills, who shoots him twice in the abdomen.

Johnson died at the hospital.

His death is one of several officer-involved shootings in the last several years involving Aurora officers and unarmed Black men. The shootings have resulted in ongoing protests at Aurora City Council meetings.

Protesters have attended every meeting since Kilyn Lewis was shot and killed in May 2024, demanding action from the council and calling for the resignation of the police chief.

The APD has also been under a consent decree since 2021, when the city signed an agreement with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office to implement sweeping changes to policing — notably in the use of force and how officers engage with residents — following the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain in 2019 while being arrested by three officers.

That consent decree comes to a close in February 2027.

On Monday, Aurora lawmakers officially approved the creation of an independent police oversight office.