A district attorney has defended his decision not to press charges against a US police officer who shot a drunk driver in the neck on Thanksgiving Eve.

Police cruiser dashcam recorded the chase through Paradise, California, which ended when five-year veteran of the force Patrick Feaster pulled up to 26-year-old Andrew Thomas' wrecked 4WD in the middle of the road.

Mr Thomas' estranged wife Darien Ehorn, 23, was thrown from the vehicle in the rollover and killed.

View photos Officer Patrick Feaster arrived at the wreck while Andrew Thomas while still inside the car. Source: Supplied More





The video shows Feaster pull up at the rolled car as Mr Thomas climbs out of the passenger-side window.

Thomas is halfway out when Feaster fires.

He was hit in the neck, leaving him paralysed. Doctors are not sure if he will walk again.

View photos Feaster fired while Thomas was climbing from the car. Source: Supplied More

In the video it looks as though Feaster fires two rounds but the official line – backed by social media comments made by neighbours – is that only one shot was fired, the Paradise Post reports.

Investigators later verified this after counting the gun's remaining number of bullets.

Feaster claimed the shot was unintentional, backed by investigators who said that it was reasonable to have the gun drawn in the situation.

They pointed to the officer's body language when the shot fires. Feaster appears to "stutter step", which they say suggests surprise.





View photos Feaster searched for his bullet casing, taking 11 minutes to inform his superior he fired. Source: Supplied More

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey told the newspaper there was reason to believe the officer's defence - that it was an accidental shooting.

Ramsey said, "the evidence in this case tends strongly towards showing the shooting to be unintentional and possibly negligent, but not criminally so".

However, there are questions about why it took Feaster 11 minutes to inform his superior he had fired the gun despite Thomas telling him he had been shot despite searching the scene for a bullet casing.

News break – December 17

