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Janson’s cause of death not yet known

MIFFLINTOWN – A man seriously injured during a shootout with police nearly three years ago passed away at a residence in Juniata County recently.

Juniata County District Attorney Cory Snook said Brian C. Janson, 32, died Wednesday, and the cause of death has yet to be determined.

Snook did not want to speculate as to whether or not Janson succumbed to the injuries sustained during the shooting, or if some other factor caused his death.

Snook said an autopsy was done on Janson and the Pennsylvania State Police are awaiting toxicology results.

Snook said he will be filing a motion with the court to have Janson’s charges dismissed. Janson was charged with several counts of attempted homicide, attempted assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and prohibited possession of a firearm.

Police opened fire on Janson on Aug. 17, 2010, at a residence along Cuba Mills Lane, after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers following a lengthy manhunt to track him down to answer questions about a domestic dispute with his girlfriend that occurred several hours prior to the shooting, police said. Janson was also alleged to have stolen two trucks following the dispute, according to court documents.

As the Pennsylvania State Police approached the passenger side of the car, Janson was ordered to drop his weapon and show his hands, police said. Janson reportedly ignored those commands and exited the vehicle on the driver’s side and then brought the weapon to his shoulder and aimed it at police, who then fired at Janson, according to documents.

Janson sustained several serious injuries from the shooting, including a gunshot wound to the head which destroyed one of his eye sockets.

The shooting was ruled justified by Snook in December 2010, following a four-month investigation. Janson spent several months at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center recuperating from the wounds he sustained during the incident.

Janson was represented by Brian Ulmer who filed a petition with the court in 2012 to have his client deemed incompetent to stand trial based on a psychological evaluation performed by Dr. Richard E. Dowell Jr.

In the petition Ulmer submitted to the court it states Janson “does not have the ability to consult rationally with an attorney to aid in his defense” and “does not posess the ability to have a rational and factual understanding of the charges.”

The petition further states that “Dr. Dowell believes (Janson’s) condition is permanent.”

Snook had been granted a request to have another independent psychological evaluation done on Janson.

At a preliminary hearing in August 2011, Janson had to be helped into the courtroom by family members because he had difficulty moving around. It also appeared he had trouble speaking.

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