HARRISBURG - Lisa Mearkle had little choice but to shoot and kill Hummelstown resident David Kassick following a routine traffic stop on Feb. 2, said Brian Perry, Mearkle's attorney.

In fact, Mearkle, a 15-year veteran of the Hummelstown Police Department who never discharged her service weapon prior to that day, did what she was trained to do under such circumstances, Perry said during a press conference held at his Harrisburg office on Thursday afternoon to discuss his client's arrest.

Kassick, who was 59 when he died, was out on probation, ran from the law and appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the incident, Perry said. And he didn't comply with Mearkle after she tased him four times and kept reaching under his belly when his back was turned to Mearkle, Perry said.

Neither Mearkle, nor any other officer, would have known whether Kassick was reaching for a weapon that day, he said.

"(Mearkle) did what she felt she had to do," Perry said.

Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico Jr. announced Tuesday that following an incident investigation, Mearkle was charged with homicide for unnecessarily killing Kassick, who was unarmed the day he fled a traffic stop and drove to his sister's house in South Hanover Township.

Mearkle, who was initially denied bail, was granted $250,000 bail and was released Tuesday afternoon, Perry said. She is under electronic monitoring. Her preliminary hearing has been set for April 20. Perry said He now will "begin to interview witnesses, prepare our defense case and get ready to go to war."

After Kassick drove away from Mearkle during the traffic stop, she gave chase, Perry said.

Upon reaching his sister's house, Kassick ran to the rear of the property, where Mearkle demanded and yelled for Kassick to put his hands in the air, Perry said.

He never complied, however, and so Mearkle tased him four times, all the while demanding and yelling for him to stop reaching under his belly while his back was turned to her, Perry said.

Meanwhile, Kassick's brother showed up, and he was yelling at Mearkle, who Perry stressed is not trained to hesitate and wait for someone to pull a weapon on her.

Mearkle also is not trained to wound, Perry said. She is trained to shoot at center mass and kill, he said.

Much of the incident was captured by a 1 1/2-minute video captured by a camera on the taser Mearkle held in one hand, while her other hand gripped a pistol, Marsico said.

Perry said he has not had an opportunity to review the video, yet, which Marsico deemed to be "the best evidence in this case."

This is the first time Marsico has charged an officer with homicide during his tenure as DA. And Perry said he believes Marsico felt pressure to charge his client due to the unrest sparked by officer-involved shootings across the U.S.

Perry said he told his client that "it is rare that a police officer is charged with homicide," and that she should "get ready," because this situation will draw national attention.

A hypodermic needle was found under Kassick, who Perry said Mearkle attempted to give CPR to after shooting him.

Kassick was unarmed during the incident, Marsico said.