In a 2013 response filed in court, Deputy City Solicitor Amanda C. Shoffel wrote that Pownall was justified in using deadly force. "The undisputed facts establish that PO Pownall believed Mr. Williams-Carney, who had been running from police, was about to use a handgun to evade arrests. By not showing his hands when repeatedly commanded by PO Pownall, and reaching for the firearm and removing it from his waistband, it was reasonable for PO Pownall to believe he was in imminent danger for his life and shoot Williams-Carney. That split second of waiting could have proven fatal to PO Pownall had Mr. Williams-Carney fired the gun at him rather than throwing it away," Shoffel wrote.