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No charges for deputy who shot gun-yielding man

Posted at 2:59 PM, May 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-10 21:11:35-04

A Grand Jury has decided that a Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy was justified when he shot and killed an gun weilding man in the parking lot of a Pembroke restaurant last month.

Deputy Ryan W. Young shot 61 year-old Keith Kent outside of the Log Cabin Restaurant on Gilmore Road in the evening of April 11.

Young was one of several sheriff's deputies who responded to the scene after dispatchers recieved a 911 call reporting a man with a gun making threats at the Log Cabin restaurant on Gilmore Road. The man refused to leave, and was heard telling people to "come out for a fight" and asking "where are the police."

That man was later identified as Keith Kent from Albion.

According to both the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and the Genesee County District Attorney's Office, additional reports came in while deputies were driving to the restaurant that indicated Kent had fired shots and had been both inside and outside the restaurant.

"As a result of that patrons at the restuarant and employees went down into the basement and began to arm themselves with materials from the basement while hiding," said Genesee County District Attorney Lawrence Friedman.

When deputies arrived, they heard a shot fired and found the Kent with a shotgun in the restaurant's parking lot. Authorities say deputies instructed the man several times to put his weapon down. Walker says the suspect turned and pointed his gun at Deputy Young and began walking toward him. Kent also made threatening comments to deputies, reportedly 'asking for a fight.' That's when investigators say Deputy Ryan W. Young, opened fire, killing him.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini said officers then went into the restuarant and found the employees and restaurant patrons hiding in the basement.

"These witnesses told the New York State Police Officers that they were in fear for their lives that night, and one witness even credited the Genesee County Sheriff's Office with saving his life," Cianfrini said.

The investigation of the incident was turned over to the New York State Police who interviewed the witnesses, and reviewed the crime scene and footage from body cameras worn by the sheriff's deputies at the scene.

Officers presented the results of their investigation to a Genesee County Grand Jury Wednesday. The Grand Jury was then asked to vote on whether the shooting was justified under Article 25 of the New York State Penal Code, and they voted that the actions of Deputy Sheriff Young were justified and he shouldn't face any charges.