Events leading up to killing detailed by district attorney

SPECULATION THAT Andrew Hanlon mistook another house for that of his sister on the night he was shot was dismissed by the grand…

SPECULATION THAT Andrew Hanlon mistook another house for that of his sister on the night he was shot was dismissed by the grand jury as "the residences are not at all similar", according to a statement from the office of Marion County District Attorney.

It said that on the night he was shot Hanlon came to the door of Shannon Kelley's house - which is one of three residences on Digerness Boulevard in Silverton - at 11.20pm. Ms Kelley was in the house with her three children and her parents who were visiting from Montana. She told of how she became frightened as Mr Hanlon "appeared to be acting very strangely and was alternating between peering in the windows and beating on the front door".

The statement said Ms Kelly described how Mr Hanlon began speaking in "old English", shouting phrases that included "thou shalt let me in".

At this stage Ms Kelley had already called the emergency number 911 and after Hanlon stopped trying to force the door in he "abruptly ran off down the hill going through the trees and blackberries without shoes".

READ MORE

Tony Gonzalez and his police colleague Josh Barnett appeared on the scene with Officer Barnett, going to the Kelley residence while Officer Gonzalez ordered Mr Hanlon to come down from a tree he had climbed, the statement continued. After initially refusing to comply, Mr Hanlon then "let out a scream and leaped at Tony Gonzalez who began to retreat as Andrew Hanlon chased after him swinging his arms, kicking and screaming".

Officer Gonzalez was never able to get more than five feet away from Andrew Hanlon and "at some point he began to shoot in an attempt to defend his life", the statement added.

Officer Gonzalez fired his weapon seven times and according to the autopsy hit Hanlon five times during the confrontation.

Jeff DeSantis was driving by and saw the beginning of the confrontation. The statement said that "Mr DeSantis had an unobstructed view and was approximately 35 feet away". He heard Officer Gonzalez repeatedly say, "Get down!" "Freeze!" "Dont move!" "Get down!" and said these commands were made several times and "were very clear" while Hanlon made a "primordial war scream" and continued.