Police investigate the March 12 shooting on N. 27th St. that left two teens dead. Credit: Pat A. Robinson / For the Journal Sentinel

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Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced Wednesday that Jeremy Rossetto will not be charged in connection with the March 12 shooting death of two teens who were hitting him with a souvenir baseball bat.

The district attorney's office reviewed the police investigation, interviewed witnesses and viewed witness cellphone video before concluding that Rossetto shot the teens in self-defense.

"He's relieved," attorney David Geraghty said of Rossetto, his client. "He's cooperated as much as a person could do in the circumstances."

He said police still have Rossetto's .40-caliber gun and his cellphone.

The investigation found that Rossetto, 39, of Cudahy, went to the apartment building at 1410 N. 27th St. to change some fire extinguishers as part of his job.

While at the apartment building, Rossetto became involved in a verbal confrontation with James Bell, 19; Anmarie Miller, 17; and Clarence Alls, 20, according to the district attorney's statement.

The district attorney's office determined that at one point Bell grabbed Rossetto from behind and pulled him onto the stairs, while Alls punched the janitor at least once and Miller repeatedly hit Rossetto with a small, souvenir baseball bat.

Rossetto drew his gun and shot Miller in the chest as she was hitting him. Seconds later, he shot Bell, who had him in a chokehold.

The district attorney determined that Rossetto believed that his actions were "necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself."

Geraghty had told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier that his client considers it an "occupational necessity" to carry a gun and has a permit to do so.

He also said that Rossetto considered the incident a tragedy and had never used his gun before in a confrontation.

Rossetto was jailed after the shooting on possible homicide charges, while Alls was jailed on possible battery charges. Prosecutors are still reviewing the case against Alls and have not made a charging decision.

Geraghty said Wednesday it's his understanding Alls will not be charged, and said that's OK with Rossetto, who just wants the whole process to be over.

Bruce Vielmetti of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.