Charles Thomas Peterson

Deadly force

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at a north-side apartment complex investigating Charles Thomas Peterson, whom they suspected of obtaining firearms and ammunition despite being prohibited from doing so because of felony convictions. Three agents confronted Peterson near the parking lot of the complex, Cornerstone Apartments, at North Stone Avenue and Roger Road, said Special Agent Tom Mangan. The agents had a search warrant for his apartment and had him under surveillance, Mangan said, but they wanted to contact him outside his apartment because they knew he had purchased several firearms. Seeing that Peterson was wearing a handgun in a holster, the agents warned him not to go for his gun, but he drew it anyway, Mangan said. Feeling their lives were endangered, they fired upon him.