A York County Sheriff’s deputy was justified in using deadly force when he shot a psychotic man in Lyman on Jan. 15, according to a review by the Maine Attorney General’s office.

Andrew Landry was charging toward Sgt. Kyle Kassa, a knife in each hand, his arms spinning like a windmill, when Kassa fired four shots from his service weapon at close range. Three of the bullets hit Landry.

A review by Attorney General William Schneider found that Kassa and another deputy, Sgt. David Chauvette, were threatened by deadly force and that Kassa’s only response was to use deadly force.

“This conclusion is based on an extensive scene investigation, interviews with numerous individuals, review of medical records, and all other evidence made available from any source,” the report stated.

The report describes how family members called police earlier in the day after Landry’s mother reported him missing from his grandmother’s house in Sanford, where he had been living. While police were at the house, Landry’s grandmother returned with him, saying she had found him walking in the winter cold in Alfred without a shirt or shoes.

That night, family members say Landry’s behavior became more bizarre and deputies were summoned to the home of his aunt, Shannon O’Brien, on Faucher Lane in Lyman. Landry said he was in “The Matrix” and thought his family members and others were robots and wouldn’t bleed if stabbed. O’Brien was there at the time of the shooting and did not fault police for their actions.

When the deputies arrived, Landry met them at the door, then walked to the kitchen, where he armed himself with two knives with 8-inch blades. Chauvette tried to immobilize Landry with a Taser, the report said. Landry stiffened up momentarily, then charged at Kassa, swinging the knives, the report says, leading Kassa to shoot.

Even after firing, Kassa continued to ward off attacks by Landry until Chauvette shoved him away and he collapsed, the report said. The report does not attempt to explain why the Taser was ineffective.

Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@pressherald.com