WARNING: The following story contains graphic content. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or need help, call SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE at 988. The video the FWPD provided has been slightly edited by WANE 15 in order to omit some graphic content.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A Fort Wayne police officer who shot and killed an 18-year-old man who investigators say wanted to die by suicide using an officer shooting will not face any criminal charges.

The Allen County Prosecutor’s Office ruled Friday that Officer Andrew Fry was justified in using force in the killing of Wyatt Beckler on Hoagland Avenue near Poplar Street on Nov. 2.

The Fort Wayne Police Department provided edited video depicting the events that led to the shooting, which started when Beckler called 911 saying that a person wearing a blue hoodie had pulled a gun on him.

Surveillance footage from a house porch appears to show Beckler wearing a blue hoodie – in the phone call to emergency dispatchers, he essentially described himself.

The FWPD video then transitioned to when Officer Fry makes contact with Beckler, who is recorded on Fry’s body cam video walking down Hoagland Avenue. Fry stops his patrol vehicle, opens up his door and with his service handgun drawn, begins giving commands to Beckler.

At one point, he asks Beckler to walk backwards toward him with his hands on his head. When he asks Beckler to get down on his knees, the video shows Beckler not complying with police commands several times.

Fry eventually draws a rifle and points a Taser at Beckler.

After Beckler does not comply with the command multiple times, Beckler appears to reach for something in his pockets before the officer shoots him three times in the back.

“The officer was justified in using force, as he reasonably believed that force was necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to himself and/or citizens of this community,” a statement from the prosecutor’s office said Friday.  

After the shooting, police said they recovered a knife in Beckler’s pocket.

In the FWPD’s edited video, the department explained that Beckler had been researching “suicide by cop” scenarios on YouTube.

Initially, police were called to the area at about 1 p.m. that afternoon on a report of a disturbance involving an armed person.

Initial reports were that a man pulled a gun on a woman, police said at the time.

When the first responding officer arrived, he located a man who matched the description given to emergency dispatchers of the man who supposedly brandished the gun. That officer gave verbal commands for the man, later identified as Beckler, to drop the gun but he refused, police said at the time.

Fry then shot Beckler, police said at the time. Other officers stepped in to provide medical aid while emergency crews arrived.

Police did not initially report that Beckler called police on himself or that he may have wanted to die by suicide.

Taken to a hospital in serious condition, Beckler was later downgraded to life-threatening condition and died in the operating room.

An autopsy by the Allen County Coroner found Beckler died from a gunshot wound and ruled his death a homicide.

“The shooting investigation was completed by the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has determined that there is no evidence of criminal liability in this incident,” the prosecutor’s statement Friday said.