The killing of an unarmed Montana man by a police officer was justified Wednesday by a jury, The Associated Press reported.

Billings Officer Grant Morrison said he feared for his life when he fatally shot 38-year-old Richard Ramirez.

"I knew in that moment, which later was determined to be untrue, but I knew in that moment that he was reaching for a gun," the five-year police veteran testified. "I couldn't take that risk. ... I wanted to see my son grow up."

Morrison told the seven-person jury he was convinced the man was reaching for a gun during their encounter back in April in a high-crime area. The jury decided the shooting was justified after an hour of deliberating.

The jury was set at a coroner's inquest, which has become mandatory after protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City called to question the justification of killings by police officers.

Police video gave evidence that Officer Morrison ordered the late Ramirez and other people in his vehicle to raise their hands. After repeated orders, Ramirez dropped his left hand to his side out of Morrison's view.

The officer, who said he did not want to take a risk at losing his own life, shot and killed another man back in 2013 and was also cleared for that case.

Ramirez's family said he was a victim of racial profiling and wanted the officer to be charged, according to ABC News.

Renee Ramirez, sister of the victim, said the coroner's inquest was one-sided and that they used irrelevant information against her brother, which stated he was a drug user.

"I don't care what things my brother did in the past," Renee said. "What does that have to do with shooting my brother?"

A small amount of methamphetamine and a syringe were later found near Ramirez's seat.

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