SEATTLE -- Seattle's chief of police is talking about the New Year's Day shooting that killed a University of Washington senior and defending his officers.

"He was holding the rifle in both hands. He pointed the rifle in their direction," said Chief of Police Gil Kerlikowske.

Kerlikowske said that is the reason officers shot and killed 22-year-old Miles Murphy, a University of Washington senior.

Murphy was a history buff who often wore vintage clothing and uniforms. Friends describe him as brilliant and eccentric.

Police responded to calls from neighbors who said they heard gunshots in an alley behind 17th Avenue Northeast in University District just before 2 a.m. Thursday.

Apartment neighbor Mark Kedziora was there.

"There was three guys dressed in World War II costumes like one in a German helmet, another one in a German officer's uniform, shooting like an old bolt action rifle," Kedziora said.

VIDEO: Police Shoot Man Holding Rifle

When police arrived, said they were told Murphy was in his basement apartment.

Police said Murphy came out of the door holding a World War II era rifle, with a bayonet attached.

"They said, ‘Drop the weapon. Drop the rifle. Seattle police put down the rifle,’" Kerlikowske said.

"Like we heard, like ‘Put the gun down now,’ you know, ‘Freeze don’t reach for anything.’ I guess he wasn’t cooperating," Kedziora said.

When Murphy didn’t respond, two officers fired a total of seven rounds killing him.

"From everything that I've been briefed on, from everything I saw at the scene I think they did make the right decision," Kerlikowske said.

At Red Mill Burgers, where Murphy worked for more than two years, there is now a memorial to a beloved coworker.

Co-owner Michael Shepherd said he is bewildered that Murphy would ever be seen as an aggressor.

"He was not that way whatsoever. I mean he wouldn’t hurt a fly," Shepherd said. In a statement released from University of Washington President Mark Emmert:

"The University is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Miles Murphy, a senior Germanics major. We mourn the loss of a member of the UW community and extend our condolences to his family and friends. The University will provide whatever information it can to assist with the Seattle Police Department investigation of this incident." Murphy was a senior at the University of Washington and was on the dean's list.