No charges will be filed in connection with the fatal shooting of a Powell veteran's service dog, a dog that had also served in combat.

A lengthy investigation by the Park County Sheriff's Office found the facts supported the 59-year-old shooter's account — that he'd acted in self-defense after the dog, a Belgian Malinois named Michael, attacked him on Road 5, east of Powell, on Oct. 10.

In a Thursday night statement announcing the conclusion of the investigation, Sheriff Scott Steward said he didn't doubt descriptions of Michael being a caring, faithful companion when around his owner, Matthew Bessler of Powell. However, Steward also said his office learned Michael had been seen running at large before and had attacked and injured a different, 70-year-old man in April.

Michael had served alongside Bessler with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Both returned from the war with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Michael became a service dog for Bessler.

Bessler was out of town on a hunting trip at the time of the shooting.

In part because Bessler publicly questioned the shooter's account, Michael's death drew international media attention. With that attention came an outpouring of support for Bessler: more than $14,800 has been raised in honor of Michael. Many people also weighed in on the incident on social media, with some expressing ill will toward the shooter, Jeffery Brandt of Powell. Brandt's name had been withheld by the sheriff's office until the investigation's conclusion on Thursday night.

Brandt, who'd been biking in the area that day, told the sheriff's office the dog approached him in "full attack mode" and wouldn't back down. He described shooting Michael with a single round of birdshot in the right rear hind quarter as the dog attacked. Some of the shot reportedly hit Michael in the right front chest area, which the sheriff's office said was "consistent with Michael being shot at a broadside angle" and not as he was running away.

Brandt, who was not injured, told the sheriff's office he hadn't intended to kill the dog and felt bad about his death.

Steward described everyone involved as victims, including Bessler, who lost a devoted companion and family member, and Brandt, an Army veteran himself who has felt threatened by the "vile, disgusting comments made on social media."

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved," Steward said in a statement. "We can only hope that those who wish to pass judgment prematurely in the print and social media without full possession of the facts will learn something from this incident.”

The sheriff's office also released a detailed report on its investigation, which is embedded below and can also be read or downloaded here. Steward said his office tried numerous times to sit down with Bessler and address the dog owner's concerns, but was unsuccessful. The statements from Bessler included in the report come from various interviews with media organizations.

The Tribune will have a more complete story in Tuesday's edition.