A grand jury has cleared the Richfield police officer who shot and killed a 25-year-old man last fall.

Around 9 a.m. Oct. 5, police were called to a Richfield rambler in the 6600 block of Park Avenue S. for a domestic disturbance and crisis situation involving a man with a knife. They shot and killed Jeff O'Connor, who was living there with his aunt.

After the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office investigated, the case was sent to a grand jury. Nine months after the shooting, the grand jury returned Thursday without indictment, clearing Police Sgt. Mark Shelley.

Shelley and two officers who responded to the scene, Tom Blair and Brian Rogge, were put on paid administrative leave after the incident.

The Richfield Police Department and O'Connor's family declined or didn't respond to messages for comment Friday.

O'Connor, who had attended St. Louis Park's Groves Academy, was working part-time at Cargill through Lifeworks Services, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities.

After his death, his aunt, Kathy Brockmeier, told the Star Tribune that he was a "gentle, kind young man" who had "some issues" recently, but "had a potentially bright future."

KELLY SMITH