An Ashland police officer used legal force when he fatally shot a man in July who refused to drop a loaded shotgun and threatened to kill police, the Middlesex district attorney's office said. Officer Christopher Alberini shot Andrew Stigliano, 27, twice in the torso while Stigliano was holed up in an attic and after he refused an order to drop the firearm, District Attorney Marian T. Ryan's office said Thursday. At the time of the shooting, Alberini feared "for his safety and the safety of other officers," the statement said. Stigliano had open arrest warrants and sent text messages moments before the shooting in which he threatened to harm and kill officers, Ryan's office said.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.