CHADRON, Neb. - A felony assault case will proceed against former Crawford police chief Richard Thompson after the Nebraska Supreme Court rejected his self-defense appeal.

The charge stems from the October 2007 shooting death of Jesse Britton, 16, in a vacant building in Crawford. Authorities say Thompson and another officer were searching for Britton, a burglary suspect, when the shooting occurred. Thompson said he was defending himself against Britton, who had a weapon.

A Dawes County grand jury indicted Thompson after seven days of hearing evidence. Thompson's attorneys had asked District Judge Randall Lippstreau to dismiss the case, contending there were errors in the hearing process. Lippstreau rejected the request last September, and the attorneys appealed. The justices dismissed the appeal this week.

Thompson's hearing date is now pending in Dawes County District Court.

Britton's mother, Pat, has filed a separate civil lawsuit asking for compensation from Thompson, state Game and Parks Department officer Dan Kling and the city of Crawford. That lawsuit claims Thompson and Kling could have used negotiation and other de-escalation techniques to resolve the situation.