A deputy was legally justified in fatally shooting a 16-year-old who pointed a gun at the officer while holding a store employee hostage, the state attorney general's office announced Friday.

The episode unfolded on Dec. 27, 2019, when Christopher Comacho entered a Dollar General store in Limerick with a handgun and machete, and secured a clerk's wrists with tape, officials said.

Store surveillance cameras captured the scene as Deputy Robert Carr of the York County Sheriff's Department arrived at the store as Comacho held a gun in one hand and a machete in the other.

DIRECTOR OF MAINE CDC LEAVING FOR HIGH-RANKING POST IN US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Carr fired his rifle twice when Comacho pointed the gun toward him as he attempted to enter. A wound to the neck was fatal.

The boy's mother previously said that she believed her son wanted to be killed, and that the officer didn't attempt to defuse the situation.

MAINE LAWYER WHO REPRESENTED GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES MAY LOSE LICENSE AFTER CRIMINAL CHARGES

But the attorney general said Carr reasonably believed the teen intended to shoot him or hurt the clerk before discharging the rifle.

"All of the facts and circumstances point to the conclusion that Deputy Carr acted in self defense and the defense of another at the time he used deadly force," Attorney General Aaron Frey wrote.

The teen's handgun turned out to be a revolver-style pellet gun.

A brutal offseason for the Arizona Cardinals has taken another turn for the worse after one teammate slammed Kyler Murray’s work ethic, claiming the quarterback did not feel inclined to meet expectations after signing a massive $230.5 million contract extension in July. 

"It was like they created a monster," one anonymous veteran told Bally Sports of the implications Murray’s contract extension had on his performance. 

"Once paid, the veteran said, Murray felt less compulsion to study his game plan or to fulfill the expectations of the franchise QB position than he had in the past, and the Cardinals’ collapse felt predictable." the report read. 

CARDINALS’ DEANDRE HOPKINS POSTS CRYPTIC MESSAGE AMID TRADE RUMORS

The Cardinals had previously included an "independent study" clause in Murray’s original contract, which reportedly required him to study game film at least four hours per game week, but that stipulation was later removed after fierce backlash. 

"After seeing the distraction it created, we removed the addendum from the contract," the organization said in a statement at the time. "It was clearly perceived in ways that were never intended."

"Our confidence in Kyler Murray is as high as it’s ever been and nothing demonstrates our belief in his ability to lead his team more than the commitment reflected in this contract." 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Murray also defended himself during a press conference over questions about his work ethic. "To think I can accomplish everything I’ve accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game, and not have that passion and not take this serious, it’s disrespectful and almost a joke," he said. 

"I’m honestly flattered that y’all think that, at my size, I can go out there and not prepare for the game and not take it serious."

Murray underwent knee surgery to repair an ACL injury that he suffered against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12.

The Cardinals started last season with a 10-2 record, emerging as a Super Bowl favorite, but lost four of their final five regular-season games. They lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions in the Wild-Card round. 

After a 4-13 finish this season, the Cardinals announced that they had fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury and would be parting ways with general manager Steve Keim, who stepped away to focus on his health. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.