NEW ORLEANS , Louisiana ( CNN ) -- A judge dismissed all charges Wednesday against six police officers and a former officer who 'd been accused of shooting unarmed civilians , two of them fatally , at a New Orleans bridge days after Hurricane Katrina . In dismissing the charges , Criminal District Judge Raymond Bigelow said three of the defendants were forced to testify before the grand jury that went on to indict them and the other four . State law says that `` no testimony or other information compelled under the order , or any information directly or indirectly derived from such testimony or other information , may be used against the witness in any criminal case , '' the judge noted . The judge said he reached `` the inescapable conclusion that the state improperly used the testimony of these officers to indict them as well as the others . '' He also cited testimony in which a police lieutenant said he had been shown one of the defendant 's grand jury testimony . The state plans to appeal , the clerk of the court said . The shootings of September 4 , 2005 , the Sunday after Hurricane Katrina struck , killed two men and wounded four other people who were were trying to evacuate by crossing the Danziger Bridge over the Industrial Canal . The officers had gone to the bridge because of reports that rescue workers heard gunfire and an officer had been wounded . Police said officers shot only after being shot at , though some evidence contradicted that assertion . Killed were Ronald Madison , 40 , and James Brissette , 19 . Bigelow threw out indictments against Sgts . Kenneth Bowen and Robert Gisevius Jr. , Officer Anthony Villavaso II and former Officer Robert Faulcon Jr. , who were facing first-degree murder and attempted murder charges . Bigelow also threw out attempted first-degree murder charges against Officers Mike Hunter Jr. and Robert Barrios and attempted second-degree murder charges against Officer Ignatius Hills .
Judge : The judge is the one who decides if you are guilty or not. Two killed , four others injured in New Orleans shooting days after Hurricane Katrina . State to appeal dismissal of charges .