Police chief: Officer under 'violent attack' by man he shot

CINCINNATI (AP) — A police officer who killed a knife-wielding robbery suspect had no choice but to open fire, his chief said today.

"This was a vicious, violent attack on the officer," police Chief Eliot Isaac said. "This officer had no other course of action."

The county prosecutor agreed, informing police that he found Officer Anthony Brucato's actions justified and there was no need to take the case to a grand jury.

"It is clear this assailant attempted to cause serious physical harm to Officer Brucato," Prosecutor Joe Deters said in a statement.

Deters said he viewed surveillance video of the violent Sunday morning encounter at Government Square downtown, and reviewed police reports. Deters said the 25-year-old suspect, Jawari Porter, tried to stab Brucato with a "folding lock-blade-style knife." He and his fellow officer were wearing bulletproof vests; Brucato suffered a forearm abrasion, Deters said.

It wasn't clear when the video would be made public. City officials said earlier today they couldn't release it, pending Deters' review of the case.