A special prosecutor announced Friday that charges will not be filed against the Ashland County deputy involved in the shooting of a 14-year-old boy on the Bad River Reservation last November.

Jason Ike Pero was shot twice in the chest by Ashland County sheriff’s deputy Brock Mrdjenovich on Nov. 8. St. Croix County District Attorney Michael Nieskes released a statement Friday saying use of deadly force was justified.

“I’ve completed my review and determined that the deputy’s actions through the use of deadly force in this situation were justified by circumstances he found himself in and that there is no criminal liability for the death of the juvenile Jason Ike Pero,” the statement said. “Therefore, based on my review of the evidence and the standards and training for law enforcement in the state of Wisconsin, I find that the deputy’s use of deadly force to be appropriate and there will be no charges arising from this incident.”

In his report, Nieskes said that during his investigation, he found that Pero had called 911 from his home phone and stated that there was an individual armed with a knife walking on the street in front of his home. Nieskes stated that Pero "gave the description of an individual that matches his description."

According to Nieskes, when the deputy arrived at the location, he found Pero armed with a knife. When Pero was told to drop the weapon, the teen lunged at the deputy, who responded by firing two shots. Nieskes said there was no video of the incident and no independent witnesses.

According to an autopsy by the Dane County Medical Examiner, Pero had the powerful narcotic fentanyl in his system, for which he had no known prescription. The autopsy also noted Pero had a number of cuts on his forearms that appeared to be self-inflicted and recent.

Many of Nieskes’ findings echoed the findings of state investigators, who had issued a report several days after the shooting that said Pero had been "despondent" in the days ahead of the incident.

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has disputed that account, and has questioned the use of deadly force against a 14-year-old. The Bad River Band - which has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into the shooting - previously said that it did not believe Pero to be a threat, saying the teen "was known in the community as a kind and gentle person with a great sense of humor" and a "sweet and non-violent boy."

The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Friday urging everyone to closely review the files and reports of the investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which the office is currently examining.

“The sheriff’s office is also deeply aware of the way in which this incident has impacted the Bad River community and its relationship with law enforcement,” the statement said. “We are dedicated to rebuilding and restoring trust and a working relationship with the community at all levels through continued community policing, officer education and training, and proactive involvement with all citizens of Ashland County.”

According to the statement, Mrdjenovich will remain employed and will continue working, assigned to limited administrative duties, until all internal review have been completed.

The News Tribune reached out to the Bad River Tribe for a statement, but one was not immediately available.