ALEXANDRIA — A prosecutor has cleared a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy involved in a February shootout with two suspects who later died in a murder-suicide.

Douglas County Attorney Chad Larson said Wednesday that deputy Dustin Alexander’s use of force was “clearly justified.”

Alexander was shot in the chest while checking a suspicious vehicle near Alexandria on Feb. 24. The deputy was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and returned fire.

The man who shot the deputy, 24-year-old Devin Blowers, and Blowers’ 29-year-old girlfriend, Katie Christopherson, both of Fargo, N.D., were later found dead. Authorities concluded Blowers shot and killed Christopherson, then shot himself.

The county attorney said there’s no evidence the deputy injured either suspect. Toxicology tests found both suspects were under the influence of methamphetamine.

Alexander returned to full duty in March.