MARION COUNTY, Iowa — The Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced on Monday that a Knoxville Police Department officer who shot and killed an assault suspect in August was legally justified.

According to a report released by the AG’s office, shortly after 11 p.m. on August 21 Marion County dispatch received a 911 call from the victim claiming a man had crashed his car into the house, ruptured the gas line, and was trying to get into the house.

The report goes on to say that the man, later identified as 47-year-old Steven Funk, once inside the house beat on a bedroom door until he was able to get inside, where he allegedly strangled the victim.

Once responding officers arrived at the home located in the 300 block of Roche Street, the report says that Funk, while still assaulting the victim, tried to bar officers from entering the bedroom. One of the officers on scene, identified as Sgt. Joseph Weppler was able to squeeze past the door and commanded Funk to stop. According to the report, Funk refused the commands and Sgt. Weppler shot him.

The Knoxville PD said Funk was transported to a Des Moines hospital where he later died. The woman who was assaulted was also transported to a hospital but was later released.

Both the victim and Funk knew each other but, according to the AG report, a no contact order was in place at the time of the incident.

According to the AG report, law enforcement was familiar with Funk prior to the shooting, as he had once served as a Warren County deputy. In recent years, the report claims that law enforcement had dealt with Funk on several occasions where he was intoxicated. The report says that Funk’s drinking and mental health had gotten progressively worse.

The attorney general’s office concluded that the fatal shooting of Funk was legally justified.