KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Friday that Kansas City, Mo. policeman Donald Hubbard won’t be criminally charged in the shooting death of Anthony Bruno. The shooting happened in the early morning hours of December 1st after Hubbard responded to a reported assault on a cab driver at 12th and Wyandotte involving Bruno.
A grand jury issued a no-true bill, which means that the case is closed according to a release from the prosecutor’s office. The release indicates that the office won’t have a further comment past this statement from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker:
“This is a great tragedy, not only for the Bruno family but for so many others touched by this incident. I would respectfully ask that the media and the community support all the families involved and respect their privacy.”
Bruno was a firefighter for the Kansas City Fire Department and had been celebrating his wedding reception in the hours that led up to the shooting. Hubbard reportedly responded to the assault after Bruno and his wife got into a dispute with a cab driver over a running meter.
Hubbard was off-duty and working security in another capacity when he tried to break up the fight involving the cab driver and then gave chase to Bruno after he ran from the scene. When Hubbard caught up to him at 13th and Baltimore, they became entangled in a physical altercation.
Witnesses say that Bruno was resisting Hubbard’s attempts to subdue him and pinned Hubbard to the ground, repeatedly punching him in the face and head. Hubbard reached for his gun and shot in Bruno in an act of self-defense. Hubbard later told investigators that he was about to pass out and feared for his life when he fired the shots.
Bruno died after being transported to a hospital. Hubbard had to undergo facial surgery due to injuries sustained in the fight.
In Bruno’s autopsy, the deputy medical examiner determined that Bruno was hit with two gunshots in the chest, those wounds are the official cause of death. Bruno also had abrasions on his face and contusions on his hands. The toxicology report lists that Bruno’s blood alcohol content was at least .21, nearly three times the legal limit to drive.
FOX 4 reached out to the Kansas City Police Department, Kansas City Fire Department and Mayor Sly James’ office for reaction to the grand jury’s decision. All three refused comment on Friday afternoon.