PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office released an investigative report that said that the Pawtucket police officer who shot a man holding a replica gun in June 2025 was “legally justified.” Officer Thomas Letourneau shot 28-year-old Sebastian Yidana in the shoulde r when Yidina was pointing what appeared to be a gun “at himself and others.” Body camera footage of the incident was released in July. Police said they later determined the gun was a plastic replica rifle. Yidana was later arraigned on felony charges of assault and disorderly conduct. The conclusion of the report reads as follows: Our review of the investigation conducted by Pawtucket and Rhode Island State Police Departments concludes that the use of force by Officer Thomas Letourneau was objectively reasonable and legally justified under the totality of the circumstances. Officer Letourneau gave Mr. Yidana a chance to defuse the situation and end it peacefully by issuing commands to drop the weapon. Mr. Yidana’s mistaken belief that no one would feel threatened by him was both misplaced and inherently unreasonable. He created a very dangerous situation to the public, himself and the responding officers. Officer Letourneau made a quick decision under intense pressure and danger which, given the circumstances confronting him, was an objectively reasonable one. Therefore, this Office finds that his use of force was legally justified, and this matter is closed. Categories: News, Pawtucket, Rhode Island ...read more read less