A police officer-involved fatal shooting that brought a violent end to a standoff with a Lower Saucon Township man last month was justifiable homicide, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta’s office announced Wednesday.

Baratta’s office issued a news release that provided a timeline of what led to the death of 37-year-old Andrew Krasnansky on Applebutter Road. The release did not name Krasnansky, but the Lehigh County Coroner’s office previously identified him as the person who was killed March 25. Coroner Dan Buglio said Krasnansky died from gunshot wounds at St. Luke’s Hospital.

The DA’s news release said police responded to Krasnansky’s home on the morning of March 25 for a report of a man who “was armed and expressing suicidal ideation.” It said an active warrant was also issued for him under Section 302 of the Mental Health and Procedures Act, with Lower Saucon Police receiving a call about the situation at approximately 10:30 a.m.

After police established a perimeter around the home, Krasnansky began firing rounds from a rifle and struck several police vehicles, according to authorities. The DA also noted that Krasnansky “made threats to shoot the police officers on scene.”

After the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) arrived at the scene, a family member who was holed up inside a garage attached to the home was rescued via a SERT-operated armored vehicle, the release indicated.

Meanwhile, Krasnanky remained barricaded in the home, reportedly firing rounds from weapons that included a hunting rifle and an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle and communicating with the 911 center and other parties via cell phone.

The DA’s office said that during these calls, he allegedly “expressed his dislike for police, a desire to shoot police and his intention to get into the woods.”

SERT attempted to negotiate Krasnansky’s surrender, but that effort failed and around 12:35 p.m. he emerged from a side door and began walking toward a wooded area along the rear perimeter, the release said.

“In response, SERT issued multiple surrender commands; however, the actor failed to comply or even recognize the commands,” Baratta’s release said. “As the actor continued walking towards the wooded area, a member of the SERT team discharged his weapon striking the actor. Aid was immediately rendered to the actor, however, he succumbed to his injuries.”

Baratta said Krasnansky’s death was justified under the law that governs the use of force by law enforcement. Specifically, he said the officer who fired his weapon was justified in using deadly force under Pennsylvania law, which says police may do so if they reasonably believe that such force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or other people.

“In this case, any reasonable review of the materials indicates that the actor made multiple threats to police that he would use his firearms to shoot police officers,” the release said. “Further, the actor discharged numerous rounds towards the police officers who had established a perimeter around the residence. Thereafter, the actor left the residence, ignored commands to lay down his rifle and to surrender, and instead continued to approach police while he possessed an AR-15 styled rifle.”

Baratta said the evidence his office reviewed in the case included body-worn camera video, drone video, police reports and photos.

He called it “fortunate” that no police officers were hit by the bullets Krasnansky fired.