Prosecutors say campus police justified in shooting death of graduate student at CSUSB

Prosecutors say two campus police officers at Cal State University, San Bernardino, were justified when they shot a graduate student to death while trying to detain him.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office says the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Bartholomew Williams on Dec. 8, 2012, was justified because campus police officers feared for their lives and acted in self-defense.

In a report released Thursday, prosecutors say Williams suffered from bipolar disorder and was off of his medication when he fought with three officers who were trying to take him for a mental evaluation.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Williams resisted officers’ attempts to detain him and was stomping on an officer when two others shot at him.

Williams’ parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the state and university in 2013.