Kewaunee County's District Attorney will not file criminal charges against a deputy who shot and killed 22-year-old Tyler Whitmire

DA Andrew Naze made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference to discuss the findings of the investigation and to announce that the deputy was justified in his use of deadly force.

On Aug. 21, Kewaunee County Deputy Jamie Tlachac shot and killed Whitmire on County Road AB.

An investigation was conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and those findings were released Tuesday.

DCI's report states that deputies were called to the area of County Highway AB for the report of a man who had attacked a woman with a hammer. Other witnesses stated that "Tyler" had a knife and was asking bystanders to "kill him."

At 8:03 p.m., Deputy Tlachac arrived on scene, followed by Kewaunee Police Officer Brian Gale, Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Salentine, and Sheriff's Sergeant Dustin Smidle.

Deputy Tlachac said he saw Whitmire walking through the front yard of a home on the highway. Whitmire walked down the driveway and out onto the road.

DCI says Whitmire had a knife in his right hand and a phone in his left hand, up to his ear.

Law enforcement officers asked Whitmire to talk with them. That's when Whitmire charged at Dep. Salentine, according to investigators.

This was captured on dash camera video.

"As law enforcement officers began to make a perpendicular line across the roadway, Whitmire ran along the northbound roadway's edge directly at Dep. Salentine, who had his duty rifle pointed at Whitmire as Whitmire charged at Dep. Salentine with the knife overhead," reads the DCI report.

Dep. Tlachac fired three shots, hitting Tlachac three times, according to the DA.

"Whitmire immediately fell to the ground, at Dep. Salentine's feet," reads the DCI report.

Whitmire died at the scene. An autopsy was conducted by the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner's Office. The autopsy found three gunshot wounds: one in the left back with no exit wound; one in the left hand; and a graze wound to the chin.

THE ATTACK

The investigative reports detail the events that lead up to the deadly shooting, from the point of view of the woman Whitmire attacked with the hammer and other witnesses.

The hammer victim told investigators that she had received a message from her high school friend, Tyler Whitmire, a few days before the shooting.

On the evening of Aug. 21, Whitmire and the victim went for a nature walk and smoked marijuana. Whitmire, a U.S. Marine, told her that he had recently married. He said he had returned to Northeast Wisconsin to start a job as a security officer.

The victim stated that Whitmire "began acting strange." Whitmire and the victim got into the victim's vehicle, and Whitmire stated that he "did not feel right," according to the victim.

The victim stated that they drove west on County Road BB, and Whitmire pulled the steering wheel from her hands. The vehicle swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic and nearly hit another vehicle. The victim pulled over and "screamed" at Whitmire. She gave him a chance to calm down. She intended to talk him to McDonald's to get some food in hopes that would make him feel better.

As they turned on to County AB, Whitmire again pulled the steering wheel from her hands. The victim stopped her car, saying she could smell rubber burning from her tires.

The victim says Whitmire grabbed a mason hammer that was in a compartment of the passenger-side door. He started smashing windows of the vehicle. She pleaded for him to stop.

She says Whitmire smashed the driver's side window and began attacking her with the hammer, hitting her multiple times.

The victim described Whitmire's eyes as "wild and angry."

She suffered injuries to her head, forearms, and left shoulder and back area.

Neighbors heard the commotion and came out to investigate. A witness told police that he saw Whitmire smashing the windows. He heard the victim yelling for help, and approached the scene.

At one point, Whitmire chased a female neighbor with the knife in his hand, according to the investigative report. The female was able to get into the house before Whitmire got to her.

Whitmire crossed to another driveway. A witness attempted to keep him calm. Whitmire said, "I did drugs, my wife is done with me."

Whitmire also said "kill me, I want to die," according to the investigative report.

One of the witnesses told him to put down the knife. Whitmire refused.

A short time later, law enforcement arrived on the scene.

WHAT'S NEXT

Family members of Whitmire expressed to the district attorney that it was not in Whitmire's nature to act in such a way.

Toxicology test results on Whitmire are pending.

Deputy Tlachac and other law enforcement officers who responded to the scene were placed on administrative leave, which is protocol during officer-involved shooting investigations.

Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says the officers will be integrated back into the workforce soon.

DCI handed over their findings to the Kewaunee County District Attorney's Office on Sept. 29.