The King County Prosecutor’s Office revealed Wednesday that it won’t file criminal charges against Olenthis Woods in the shooting death of Shennon Shelton and the wounding of his brother, Gaston Shelton, May 1 outside of an apartment complex in Auburn.

According to the King County Prosecutor’s Office, the police investigation determined that Woods acted in defense of himself and others.

“We understand that the loss of Mr. Shelton’s life is truly tragic for his family and friends,” the prosecutor’s office said in a press release. “However, the evidence in this case dictates that criminal charges are not warranted.”

In this case, prosecutors said, Woods could and would claim that he had a lawful right to defend himself and his family members under state law.

Here is what happened, according to the release, which is based on the Auburn Police investigation:

Gaston Shelton, who was visiting a friend at the complex that day, saw a fight break out between several people and followed the fighters as they moved from one complex to another.  He was capturing the fight with his cell phone when a man suddenly punched him. He fought back, whereupon three men, including Woods, jumped him, opening up several slight cuts on his face.

After the fight ended, according to the release, Gaston returned to his friend’s apartment and called his wife, asking her to contact his brothers, Shennon, Kevin and Danny, to tell them that he had been jumped. The brothers, a cousin and a friend of Gaston’s, all of them large men, met up and headed to a nearby apartment where they believed they could find Woods.

According to the release, several witnesses saw the six men walking in a  group to Woods’ apartment, where Woods was standing outside with his mother, sister and several other people.

At the approach of the six men, the group outside the apartment scattered except for Woods, his mother and sister. Woods ran inside the apartment and grabbed a handgun, as his mother and sister tried to prevent the six men from entering.

The Shelton brothers yelled for Woods to come outside, with Kevin and Danny Shelton moving to the side of the apartment as Gaston, Shennon and their cousin stayed at the front entrance. Gaston banged on the front door while his cousin kicked over a garbage can, both demanding that Woods come outside.

Woods moved to the entrance of the apartment.  Danny could see through the window that Woods had a gun, so he yelled out to his brothers to warn them as Woods’ mother and sister continued to yell at the Sheltons to leave. Woods came to the door and yelled at the men to back up. Shennon and his cousin backed up a bit. Gaston also backed up a few feet, but then, in his own words “posted up” just outside Woods’ front door.

According to the release, Gaston told Woods, “then shoot me, shoot me, dude,” and Woods shot him once in the chest. He fell six to 10 feet from Woods’ front door. Shennon Shelton then lunged at Woods, who fired again, hitting him once in the head, dropping him just in front of the doorway. Danny Shelton then grabbed the gun from Woods as he tried to shoot at him. Danny Shelton then hit Woods with the gun repeatedly as Danny’s cousin began kicking Woods. Woods’ mother and sister pepper sprayed Danny and his cousin. Woods ran away.

Shennon and Gaston were taken to the hospital, where Shennon died from the single gunshot to his head. Doctors saved Gaston.

Police found Woods hiding in a nearby yard. He acknowledged shooting the men and eventually led police to the gun he had used.

“Based on the facts of this case, prosecutors cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Woods was unjustied in his actions,” the prosecutor’s office concluded. “Woods faced an imment risk of being assaulted by the six men who had come to his apartment, likely to enact revenge for Woods’ earlier attack on Gaston Shelton. Although the Sheltons did not carry any weapons, their likely intent to assault Woods allows him to defend himself and his family with force up to, and including, deadly force.”