An investigation in the Northern Marianas has exonerated police in their use of deadly force in subduing a hostage-taker on Saipan last March.
The probe said law enforcement officers were justified when they shot Gordon A. Castro after a 38-hour-long hostage drama in which he took his girlfriend hostage last March.
CNMI police Photo: Supplied
It added that difficult and sudden circumstances created by Mr Castro made it hard for police to apprehend him without the use of deadly force, especially as he held his girlfriend at gunpoint.
The investigation also concluded that while there's no sufficient evidence that Mr Castro fired the shot that killed his girlfriend, the trajectory, soot and gunpowder marks made it likely he did.
The cordoned off house were Gordon Aldan Castro and his hostage died. Photo: Mark Rabago