Frederick Grand Jury Clears Deputies In Shooting
FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A Frederick County grand jury has cleared two sheriff's deputies in the fatal shooting of a Mount Airy man in January.
State's Attorney Charlie Smith said the panel found on Friday that the deputies were justified in shooting 19-year-old Daniel Vail.
Police say Vail was a suspect in an armed home invasion two days earlier. Deputies Charles Zang and Kevin Riffle went to his apartment at 1 a.m. Jan. 10 to serve a search-and-seizure warrant.
Smith says the deputies entered Vail's bedroom and found him pointing a shotgun at them. He says the deputies fired after ordering Vail several times to drop the gun.
The Vail family has questioned the use of deadly force. Their attorney says there is evidence the deputies fired at least 18 shots.
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