Police were justified in fatally shooting a burglary suspect who killed a police dog, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office decided Friday.

Tevita Talano Fisiitalia, 22, was shot on New Year's Day as police chased him and three others from the scene of the burglary near 6800 South and 700 East, police said. Officers from Midvale and Cottonwood Heights responded to the burglary. Midvale Officer Brian Todd sent his police dog, Koda, after Fisiitalia. When the dog cornered him, Fisiitalia turned and shot the dog with a handgun.

Fisiitalia continued to run with the gun in his hand, and officers saw him point it at them, according to a news release from the county attorney's office. Two officers, Todd and a Cottonwood Heights officer, fired on Fisiitalia. A round from Todd hit him in the head, police said. Fisiitalia later died of his injuries.

Fisiitalia's demonstrated willingness to discharge the gun made the officers "reasonably believe that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to themselves," the release states. Both Todd and the Cottonwood Heights officer were cleared.

Two of the burglary suspects were arrested, but the fourth, a woman, was not found.

Both officers were put on administrative leave after the shooting. Todd has returned to work and now has a new police dog, said Midvale police Sgt. Marcelo Rapela.