Pa. coroner: Police shooting of student justified

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania coroner says state police were justified in the fatal shooting of a Seton Hill University student during an armed standoff last year.

Kenneth Bacha, Westmoreland County coroner, announced his ruling today in the death of 22-year-old Joseph Briggs. Briggs was a senior at Seton Hill when he threatened in February 2009 to kill himself or his roommates and then fired on police during a standoff.

A police sharpshooter shot and killed Briggs.

Bacha had an inquest into the shooting in December. Investigators say Briggs had been drinking heavily the night before and a roommate testified Briggs had recently broken up with his girlfriend.

The coroner says the police did nothing criminal.

District Attorney John Peck says no charges will be filed in the case.