District Attorney Erik Johnson has announced that no charges will be filed in a deadly shooting that occurred in December in Seminole County.

According to a press release from Johnson’s office, Lee Hodges was shot and killed Dec. 9 when he trespassed onto property located near his parents’ residence in Cromwell. When confronted by the property owner, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), which took the lead in the investigation, determined that Hodges charged toward the property owner.

The news release states that the property owner, whose name has not been released, retreated approximately 170 feet toward his residence and issued multiple verbal warnings to Hodges. After Hodges continued advancing to less than ten feet of the property owner, he discharged his pistol three times, resulting in Hodges’ death.

Based on the findings of the OSBI investigation, the District Attorney’s Office has concluded that the evidence supports the claim that the property owner was acting in self-defense, and no charges will therefore be filed.

“This was a tragic incident resulting in the loss of life,” said Johnson. “Our office carefully evaluates every case based on the facts and the law. While this decision does not lessen the impact of this loss on the victim’s loved ones, the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges.”