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It took months to sort out the circumstances of the controversial fatal police shooting of 26-year-old Brandon Tate-Brown during a traffic stop. But Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has cleared the officer of any crime in the case.

(screen shot/NBC Philly)

These facts are not in dispute: A Philadelphia police officer shot 26-year-old Brandon Tate-Brown once in the head after pulling him over at about 2:45 a.m. on Dec. 15 for driving without headlights on.

However, it took months to sort out the circumstances of the controversial shooting.

But now, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said he has, and he is clearing the officer, who is not named in the Associated Press report, of any crime in the shooting.

"The facts show a tragedy, a terrible tragedy, but not a crime," Williams said at a news conference yesterday.

This, because Williams said evidence, including surveillance video, corroborated the officers' story that Tate-Brown was reaching back into his car for a loaded pistol when an officer shot and killed him, AP reported.

"He broke away from officers three separate times," Williams was quoted as saying by AP. "He went around the car towards the passenger side where he tried to reach inside to the place where he knew he had put his gun."

Police also tell AP that Tate-Brown had several prior arrests.

Still, the DA's decision is already prompting protests in Philly.

Fox News reports that ten people have been arrested at a "raucous protest" at a Philadelphia community meeting held after Williams declined to press charges.

Meanwhile, Tate-Brown's family said they expected to file a civil rights lawsuit.

Tanya Dickerson, Tate-Brown's mother, along with the family's attorney, Brian Mildenberg, had this to say to reporters Thursday afternoon, according to AP:

"Like any mother, I choked and I cried," Dickerson said when she found out that charges would not be filed.

Mildenberg added the family is questioning why Tate-Brown was pulled over and whether the use of force was justified.