The actions of an officer who shot and killed a man last week in Aldan, Delaware County, were justified, District Attorney Tanner Rouse announced Friday.

At a news conference, Rouse released body camera footage and shared more details about the officer-involved shooting that killed 23-year-old Ugochukwu Ilodigwe on Aug. 6, 2026. According to Rouse, Ilodigwe was armed with a 12-inch kitchen knife at the time of the incident.

"It is quite clear from the video that we will show you here today, that her actions, the officer's actions, were justified. Not just legally, but as a person, they were justified," Rouse said.

Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse released bodycam footage and shared new details about the officer-involved shooting that killed a man on Aug. 6.

Press play above to watch the full news conference, which includes the bodycam footage.

The investigation began after police were called to the unit block of South Clifton Avenue in Aldan, at about 3:35 a.m. on Aug. 6. According to officials, Ilodigwe called 911 saying he needed a ride from there to Upper Darby.

Officials said when the officer arrived at the scene, she encountered the 23-year-old.

In the body camera video, the officer can be heard asking, “What’s going on?” Almost immediately, the man is seen pulling out a knife and then charging at the officer.

At some point during the initial encounter, the officer is seen falling to the ground. According to Rouse, she suffered injuries to her head.

"She pleads with the deceased, pleads with him to stop," Rouse explained. "Instead, he continues reaching for the knife. He references having a gun."

The officer then deploys a taser, bringing Ilodigwe to the ground.

"As he's being tased, he's still reaching back for that knife. You saw him get to the knife when she tased again, and it fell back out of his hand," Rouse said.

When the 23-year-old was on the ground, the officer can be heard saying multiple times, “Turn over right now… Hands behind your back.” The man is then seen standing up and running toward the officer while reaching for his waistband.

That's when the officer fired twice at Ilodigwe.

"She is left with no choice and every reason to believe that he intended her grave bodily harm, life-threatening bodily harm that evening," Rouse said.

The 23-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died shortly after.

In a radio call obtained by NBC10, an officer can be heard telling a dispatcher to send an ambulance following the shooting.

"Shots fired, start the ambulance, start the ambulance," a voice can be heard shouting in the recording.

Last week, the man's father, Patrick Ilodigwe, said his son struggled with mental illness and had called 911 because he wanted to see him.

"The police said, from what they are telling me, that he came out with a knife and attacking him. They tased him, and he was still attacking them, and they shot him," Ilodigwe said.

NBC10 stopped by Ilodigwe's mother's home ahead of the news conference Friday morning, but we were told, "No comment." We also went to his father's home and were told to contact his lawyer. We reached out to the father's lawyer for comment, but he said he wanted to wait until after the news conference. We haven't been able to reach him since.

Rouse said there’s nothing else the female officer could have done that day.

"Regardless of who was at fault, regardless of any legal conclusions, regardless of any of the circumstances surrounding this, this is a tragedy," Rouse said.

Aldan Mayor Michael Ceci said after the DA's conclusion justifying the officer's actions, she has been cleared to return to active duty.

"The conclusion of this investigation doesn't change the fact that a family has lost a loved one, and we recognize the grief they are experiencing. Our thoughts are with the family during this time," Ceci said.