William Jackson shooting

Brensinger Alley at Schuylkill Street scene where William M. Jackson Jr. was shot Dec. 29, 2013.

(Paul Chaplin)

Harrisburg officials will fight a federal lawsuit filed against two city police officers over the 2013 fatal shooting of a man investigators claim tried to ram one of the cops with his vehicle, a lawyer for the city vowed Monday.

Filing of the suit came 16 months after Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico ruled that Officers Chad McGowan and Jeremy Christ were justified in using deadly force against William M. Jackson Jr.

"There's nothing I need to add to the district attorney's finding that the shooting was justified," said Robert G. Hanna Jr., one of the attorneys representing McGowan and Christ. "The city is going to defend this lawsuit."

Jackson's estate is suing the officers in U.S. Middle District Court on a claim that they used excessive force when they shot the 43-year-old East Hanover Township man during a traffic stop at Schuylkill Street and Bensinger Alley on Dec. 29, 2013.

In his August 2014 report on the shooting investigation, Marsico said Jackson was pulled over because the license plate on his truck was not registered to the vehicle. Jackson also was wanted on warrants issued by the state parole board and the county court.

Marsico said Jackson gave the officers a fake name. He said Jackson revved his truck's engine and began driving at McGowan, who was standing in front of the vehicle. McGowan opened fire, as did Crist, who was behind the truck, the DA said.

Jackson was hit by three bullets, including one that struck his spine, Marsico reported. His investigation included a review of surveillance video from a nearby bar.

Marsico concluded McGowan was justified in firing in self defense and that Crist was justified in shooting to protect McGowan.

Christopher J. Marzzacco, the attorney for the Jackson family, sees things differently in the federal suit, which seeks more than $150,000 in damages on claims of civil rights violations.

Marzzacco contends the officers fired at Jackson after they were out of danger. McGowan had stepped out of the way when he opened fire and the moving truck never endangered Crist, he claims.

The officers fired nine shots apiece into the truck, according to the suit. The officers, Marzzacco contends, "were not justified in firing multiple, deadly gunshots as Jackson when Jackson's vehicle had safely passed by them."

He argues that the shooting "can only be classified as punitive."