A Jefferson County grand jury says law enforcement officials were justified in the August shooting death of a Dexter woman involved in a standoff at the Stewart's Shop on Washington Street in Watertown.

The panel issued "no bills" for Watertown Police Department officers Christopher Aher and Joshua Moran, and Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Vaughn.

"I felt it was, I think, appropriate to have a final resolution of the matter for the citizens of the county, for the officers involved and for everyone to know that an independent grand jury had reviewed this," said District Attorney Cindy Intschert.

On August 27, 50 year old Laura Pettey of Dexter was killed in a standoff with police at the Stewart's Shop.

According to police, just after 11 p.m. Pettey entered the convenience store and pointed what appeared to be a pistol at two store employees, while making suicidal comments.

Pettey told the clerks to call the police and released the female clerk a short time later, police said.

When police arrived, Pettey led the male employee out the front door of the store at gunpoint.

According to witnesses, Pettey did not comply when police repeatedly told her to drop the gun.

Instead, she turned and pointed the weapon at the responding officers.

They fired and struck Pettey.

The three responding law enforcement officials are believed to have fired a total of six rounds.

The autopsy showed Pettey died from two gunshot wounds to the upper body, which caused extensive internal injuries.

Her gun turned out to be a pellet pistol.

See our earlier report