Newport News Police say the man they killed in mid-February at the end of a 30-minute negotiation told officers, "Shoot me."

Robert Harper was struck by eight bullets fired by an officer who authorities say felt threatened when Harper made a sudden move.  Harper was hit in the arm, head and back.

Monday afternoon, the commonwealth's attorney released a 13 page report on the investigation into police actions of Sunday, February 18. In it, the commonwealth's attorney said, in his opinion, it was a "justifiable homicide."

It all started when a bail bondsman, trying to pick up Harper on an outstanding warrant, called police for help and said Harper had a box cutter. They arrived at the 25th Street boarding house soon after.

Family and friends and the group The Coalition for Justice want to know why the officer felt the need to use deadly force.

"He was shot down like an animal and no man, regardless of color or creed or anything, should be shot down like an animal. That's all I got to say," said James Williams.

"Why not keep shooting him with the bean bag or shoot him with something else." questioned Michael York.

The group says it will conducts its own investigation into the incident.

Newport News Police photo

Robert Lamont Harper

“It was almost like 30 minutes that they were there, negotiating, trying to diffuse the situation," said Police Chief James Fox.  “A critical thing that they were trying to do was get the person to show them his hands."

Chief Fox says Harper refused to do that and then claimed he had a weapon. An investigation has determined he was unarmed.

Police investigators say Harper encouraged officers to shoot him, rocking back and forth, which is a danger sign, according to the chief. "Body language. When we're talking to the person, what the person is doing and the movement of the body as well as the hand is what created the deadly force," explained Fox.

"Deadly force is the last thing that a police department wants to have to use. It affects the family. It affects us,” Fox added.

According to the commonwealth's attorney's report, Officer Matthew Overton spent thirty minutes trying to talk Harper into coming along with the police. Harper allegedly refused to follow orders, was highly agitated and insisted he had a weapon. When Harper made a sudden movement with this right arm, Officer Overton feared that he was about to be harmed or killed. It was then that the officer fired his weapon, killing Harper.

"What the law requires is that we walk in Officer Overton's shoes, we see what he saw, we feel what he felt in order to judge the reasonableness of his action," said commonwealth's attorney Howard Gwynn.

The commonwealth's attorney's opinion that the killing was justifiable means that Officer Overton will not face criminal charges.

Criminal and internal investigations continue into events of that night. Meantime, the three officers involved in the call are on administrative duties.

Harper's aunt said, "I just want justice for my nephew."

Harper's mother told 13News the family also will be seeking its own answers.