ST. LOUIS OFFICERS CLEARED IN SHOOTING

ST. LOUIS -- A yearlong federal investigation into the fatal shootings of a
drug suspect and his friend has not turned up enough evidence to charge a
police officer and federal agent with the killings.

"It does not become a federal criminal civil rights violation just because
two people are dead," U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender said Wednesday.

Keith Kiorzkowski, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and
St. Louis County police drug task force Det. Robert Piekutowski fatally
shot the two men in the parking lot of a restaurant in June 2000. Earl
Murray was the subject of a drug investigation. His friend Ronald Beasley
was not suspected of any wrongdoing.

The officers told investigators they fired at Murray when they thought he
began to pull forward and drive at them. Murray was hit 12 times.

Investigators found Murray was not driving toward the officers, but such a
mistaken perception is not criminal, Gruender said.