RSSLive Blog

Live coverage: Inquest into fatal shooting

A coroner’s jury will determine if a Billings police officer was justified when he fatally shot a burglary suspect who was driving off in his patrol car in January

3rd & 7 37yd

Punt: "He had his foot to the floor, the tires were spinning and the engine was just howling"

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:22:39 PM
Punt: "My thoughts are I need to move, I need to get out of the way and I need to stop him."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:23:38 PM
Punt said Brawley turned the car into a deadly weapon. "He’s got a car, he’s got a radio, he’s got a rifle, he’s got a shotgun."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:24:09 PM
Punt said he remembers hearing one shot fired, now knows he fired 9. Said it's very difficult to hit a moving target while also moving

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:27:06 PM
Punt: "It’s a hard thing to train for." Said it was the first time he's engaged somebody with his duty weapon.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:28:34 PM
Punt ran towards the patrol car after, saw SWAT/officers working the scene and stopped. "I can’t contribute to that."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:31:07 PM
He was taken to City Hall by Officer Hallam soon after

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:31:40 PM
Punt's gun, belt and ammo were taken from him at City Hall, per BPD policy in officer-involved shootings

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:35:51 PM
Punt told Twito he felt he didn't have any other choice in decision to shoot and that knowing Brawley had access to guns played into it

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:41:49 PM
10 minute break in testimony. Punt just finished.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:42:13 PM
We are up and running again. Now up, Det. Jeff Chartier

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:51:21 PM
Chartier talking about work as an undercover officer, cycle of drug use and theft in drug lifestyle and his training w/in BPD

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:00:29 PM
He's also a firearms instructor and is now going over BPD firearms training - moving targets, stress

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:01:17 PM
Chartier: "The reason we do it is for real life scenarios."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:01:42 PM
Chartier said they train for difficult situations, stress. "We train the mindset of when the threat happens, address it."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:03:57 PM
Chartier said he helped w/ investigation after Jan. 6 shooting death of Brawley, was called in that afternoon

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:06:16 PM
Went to Miles and then City Hall, gathered detectives and began interviewing officers

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:07:31 PM
Chartier and another detective spoke with Punt at City Hall

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:10:06 PM
Chartier said Punt wasn't sure if he'd been hit or thrown by the car. "He had been assaulted by his own vehicle."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:12:30 PM
Chartier said Punt was pretty calm during the interview

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:12:52 PM
Chartier on Punt: "He's not quick to excitement."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:14:11 PM
Chartier's now telling a story from a mid-1990s encounter he and Punt had with a man with a shotgun

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:17:49 PM
Chartier said Punt tackled man waiting to ambush officers. "Officer Punt clearly could’ve shot that suspect. Officer punt did not."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:19:05 PM
Back to Jan. 6, Chartier said he sent Punt home w/ plans to interview later and then was tasked with examining the Brawley's belongings

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 6:21:26 PM
He conducts most of the autopsies for Billings and the surrounding area

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 7:57:23 PM
Bennett conducted the autopsy on Brawley on Jan. 7

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 7:59:15 PM
Bennett also described Brawley as "a very small man," estimated he weighed about 120 lbs,, "which may have been generous."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:02:59 PM
Bennett said Brawley had gunshot wound. Appeared that bullet went in his right side, exited left side and went into his left arm.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:04:33 PM
Bennett said injuries consistant with Brawley driving and turning a car to the left b/c bullet didn't hit R arm but struck L

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:05:25 PM
Bennett said the wounds suffered by Brawley couldn't be survived.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:07:53 PM
Bennett: "If he would’ve been in the emergency room when he was shot, they couldn’t have saved him, in my opinion."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:08:56 PM
Bennett now talking about toxicology exam. Keep in mind that Zink said yesterday that Brawley had meth in his system.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:10:43 PM
Bennett said report shows Brawley had meth in his system when he died.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:11:27 PM
Bennett said Brawley had a "significant level" of meth in his system.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:12:37 PM
Bennett said a tox screen of Punt returned that he had caffeine and no alcohol or drugs in his system.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:13:31 PM
Bennett said Brawley had 2x the average dose he normally sees in somebody

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:14:56 PM
Twito says no more witnesses to call. He's about to make a statement.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:16:13 PM
He's thanked them and says they must answer several questions:

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:19:26 PM
Name of deaceased, date of death, place of death, cause of death

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:20:43 PM
Twito: "That's the easy part." Says they must determine manner of death: deliberate, justifiable, accidental, self-inflicted, natural causes

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:22:00 PM
The jury must also decide whether or not the death was by criminal means

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:22:35 PM
Twito said it's not their job to judge what happened leading up to Brawley's death, only if it was by criminal means.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:25:15 PM
Twito: "You can’t use the benefit of hindsight."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:25:28 PM
Twito: "If anyone is at fault, we’re all at fault for underestimating Daniel Brawley that day."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:26:56 PM
Bullis now reading the jury instructions. Deliberations should start soon.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 8:27:35 PM