Update: Columbia Co. Deputy Justified in Shooting Suspect, Prosecutors Decide
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: January 22, 2013
Prosecutors in Columbia County have cleared a deputy that was involved in a deadly shooting.
They say Deputy Koby Schmittou was justified when he shot and killed Larry Pace the weekend before Christmas.
Prosecutors say audio and video taken from the camera system on the deputy's patrol car show Pace with a knife and the deputy telling his to stop before shooting Pace.
Deputy Schmittou has been on leave pending the outcome of this investigation.
Original story (December 23):
A Columbia County deputy shot and killed a man Saturday and now, state police are investigating to see if the officer was justified.
Troopers say the shooting happened about 10:30 a.m. Saturday near the McNeil community.
The man apparently came at the deputy with a knife, then the deputy opened fire.
Larry Pace, 60, died later at the hospital.
We're told the deputy is on leave. We'll keep you updated on any new developments on this story.

