Two Callaway County deputies will not be charged in the fatal shooting of a Texas man along Interstate 70, according to a letter sent by prosecutors Thursday.
Jonathan Beason died on Oct. 14 after exchanging gunfire with two deputies from the Callaway County Sheriff's Department during a traffic stop.
Special Prosecutor Roger Johnson reviewed the incident and determined that the deputies acted "lawfully" and in "defense of self and others."
According to Johnson's letter to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which investigated the incident, and Callaway County Sheriff's Department, Cpl. Justin Bax and Deputy Gardner Pottorff were both performing a traffic stop when the deputies learned Beason had an outstanding warrant for arrest.
During the exchange, Johnson described multiple attempts by Beason to disobey lawful orders before pulling out a handgun and firing at deputies.
"There is no question that Beason fired first," Johnson said in the letter, "since the video shows neither deputy was holding their weapon when Beason began shooting."
Bax and Pottorff both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and taken to the hospital for medical assistance. Bax was released from the hospital two days after the incident, while Pottorff remained hospitalized for two weeks.
