“As troubling as this case was, there was not sufficient evidence to file charges at that time,” she said.

One of the first cases Joyce prosecuted was a second-degree murder charge against a former city police officer for the 1999 beating death of a burglary suspect on the roof of a pawnshop. A jury acquitted the officer, Robert Dodson.

“The conviction rate on these cases nationally is 10 percent, and very rarely are they charged because of how laws are set up, and it’s rare to get a guilty verdict,” Joyce said.

She said she had not personally seen the video until about three weeks ago, and was also unaware, until then, that forensic scientists found only Stockley’s DNA on the gun recovered from Smith’s car.

“I feel like this case has gone as fast as it could have,” Joyce said.

She said new protocols instituted by Dotson should ensure that such delays won’t play out in future police shootings because the department’s Force Investigation Unit consults directly with her office on every shooting.

She declined to comment on whether Stockley’s partner, Bianchi, would face any charges. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

Jason Stockley