HARRISBURG -- A jury in Harrisburg found a police officer not guilty in the shooting death of an unarmed man from Luzerne County.
Officer Lisa Mearkle of Hummelstown was charged with homicide after she shot David Kassick, a native of West Hazleton.
Mearkle said she shot him in self-defense after he tried to flee from a traffic stop back in February.
On Thursday, the jury agreed she was not guilty.
"I'm relieved that the justice system actually worked and relieved that I'm going to get my life back. I truly wish it didn't happen. I never wanted to shoot anybody," Mearkle said.
"It's difficult when a police officer is charged with a crime. I think the general public knows cops have a tough job and they know police are out there protecting the public and they are reluctant to second guess their decision making," said Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico.
The Fraternal Order of Police called for Mearkle to get her job back after the not guilty verdict in Dauphin County.
