Greenville officer’s gun in holster when he was shot to death by suspect

Police have said Officer Allen Jacobs never drew a weapon during his brief pursuit of Deontea Mackey.

Hours after the March 18 shooting, Greenville Police Chief Ken Miller said Jacobs' gun was still holstered when he was shot and killed by Mackey.

Police said Mackey then turned the gun on himself.

If you're wondering why Jacobs didn't have his gun drawn while chasing a suspect he knew to be a self-identified gang member, here's why:

According to the Greenville Police Department's force policy, an officer is prohibited from using lethal force against subjects who are "believed to be unarmed or are not presenting an imminent threat to human life or serious bodily harm unless immediately apprehended — whether or not they are fleeing from police."

Miller has previously said Jacobs and his partner were on patrol in the Nicholtown community when they spotted Mackey and pulled over for a field interview.

Elaborating on that statement Tuesday, Miller told The Greenville News that the two officers were already looking for Mackey to question him about a weapon he was trying to acquire.

Mackey pleaded guilty last month to a felony robbery charge and wasn't allowed to possess a weapon, according to court records and Miller.

But, Miller said, Jacobs had no idea Mackey had already obtained that weapon when he chased after the teen on foot.

To Jacobs, Mackey was an unarmed 17-year-old.

Jacobs, a four-year veteran of the police department, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the hospital, according to the Coroner's Office.

Mackey died of a gunshot wound to the head. His death was ruled a suicide, the Coroner's Office said.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 10:01 PM.