Deputy Cleared in Slaying of Man Who Pointed a Toy Gun

SAN BERNARDINO —  A sheriff’s deputy was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a man who pointed a flashing toy laser gun at him, authorities said Wednesday.

An internal Sheriff’s Department investigation into the April 9 shooting at a Rancho Cucamonga elementary school also failed to find any violation of department procedures by Deputy Dan’l Durrant, sheriff’s spokesman Jim Bryant said, thus no charges will be filed against him.

Durrant, 30, who was routinely placed on administrative leave during the departmental investigation of the shooting death of Leonard Falcon, 19, returned to active duty last week, Bryant said.

Dist. Atty. Dennis Kottmeier earlier concluded Monday that the deputy “justifiably believed his life was in danger . . . (and the deputy’s) self-defense required the use of deadly force.”