RSSLive Blog

Live coverage: Inquest into fatal shooting

A corner’s inquest is underway into a pair of May shootings in Worden that left a man and woman dead.

3rd & 7 37yd

The coroner's inquest into the shooting death of Thomas Hilger, 49, is about to begin at the Yellowstone Stone County Detention Facility

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:07:09 PM
Hilger died shortly after being shot by a county deputy who responded to a report of suspicious activity near the 406 Bar in Worden in May.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:07:11 PM
Eric Yurian, 22, was found dead from a gunshot wound in a nearby vehicle.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:07:12 PM
The jury is tasked with determining if there was criminal activity on the part of deputies in shooting and killing Hilger, who owned the 406

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:08:33 PM
Nordland is telling the jury that there will be a lot of evidence because this incident also involved a homicide, the killing of Yurian

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:09:57 PM
Nordlund says that Hilger apparently shot Yurian, who he was dating, and put her in the back of his truck. Deputies responded

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:11:45 PM
Deputies confronted Hilger, he opened fire.A deputy returned fire. All of this is on video and clearly points to the deputy being justified

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:14:13 PM
First witness, Brian Rickendall (sp) is being questioned. he knew both Hilger and Yurian - he called 911

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:16:05 PM
Brian says he was behind the bar and saw Hilger "lug" a body into the back of a truck.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:17:22 PM
Brian said he thought he heard a vehicle door slam, he peaked around the corner and saw Hilger. "He was just in his underwear."

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:19:21 PM
Brian: Hilger had a dark spot on him, what he thought was blood. He was carrying a body and put the body in the back of a truck.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:20:47 PM
Brian is getting emotional. He says he hid for a while. Then ran inside the bar and told his girlfriend, a bartender at the 406.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:21:53 PM
He went outside and took pictures: A trail of blood out to the truck. Brian says he knew it was blood.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:23:44 PM
He then went in front of the bar and called 911 and told them what he saw. They're playing the call now.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:25:23 PM
Brian: I saw a man in his underwear load up a woman's body "like a bag of potatoes" into the back of a Chevy pickup.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 4:27:36 PM
Watson: He went to the bar, talked with Kuykendall about what he had seen. He saw blood outside the camper and where Hilger's truck had been

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:39:31 PM
Watson: He became concerned for Yurian's whereabouts and went back to her apartment. Still no contact. He went and looked at her truck

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:40:48 PM
Watson: The truck was suspiciously clean and he became even more concerned for her safety. He asked Stuart to bring Hilger to the 406.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:42:19 PM
Watson: He arrived at the bar and met Hilger and Stuart. Stuart asked Hilger to step out of the vehicle. He did, but brandished a gun.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:44:58 PM
Watson: Recalls three shots -- one from Hilger and two from Stuart. Hilger went down. He got medical gloves and handcuffed Hilger

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:46:21 PM
Watson: After Miranda rights were given to him, Hilger said that Erica's body was in his tool box

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:47:45 PM
Watson: When a suspect pulls a gun the way Hilger did, his training is to "pull my gun and shoot."

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:48:54 PM
Watson: Stuart was "100 percent in my mind" justifed to shoot Hilger and he would have done the same thing. Watson leaves the stand.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:50:20 PM
Kent O'Donnell (sp), a Lt. with the sheriff's offce, takes the stand.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:51:51 PM
He has been a certified firearm instructor for the state since 2001.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:54:18 PM
O'Donnell: Each deputy is issued a Glock G21 .45 caliber handgun. But they have to train and qualify to use the gun first.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:55:35 PM
O'Donnell: Has been a supervisor involved with handling three officer involved shootings.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:56:51 PM
O'Donnell: Deputies go through five firearm training sessions a year.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 6:57:46 PM
O'Donnel: Each deputy has to qualify with his or her weapon or their weapon is taken away. Deputies also go through deadly force training.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 7:01:46 PM
O'Donnell of deputies: "When we turn these guys out on the street they are more than qualified to handle them (their firearms)."

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 7:06:09 PM
O'Donnell: Stuart completed and passed his firearm training. Start qualified with a score of 92.8. The passing score is 80.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 7:07:16 PM
O'Donnell: If someone brandished a weapon like the one Hilger used, use of deadly force would be appropriate.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 7:09:29 PM
O'Donnell: Stuart acted "Well within Montana law and the training we’ve provided."

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 7:11:36 PM
Bennett: Hilger had two bullet wounds from prior to being shot by the deputy. He "absolutely" could have shot himself

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:30:16 PM
Bennett: Hilger died at 3:36 p.m. May 24 in the @StVincentMT ICU. His death was a non-criminal homicide, in Bennett's opinion

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:33:24 PM
And that's it for Dr. Bennett's testimony.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:34:55 PM
And we're back after a quick recess. The jury is getting their instructions - determine if the death was criminal or not

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:43:25 PM
Callendar is now addressing the jury before they go into deliberation

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:53:40 PM
Callendar: "All the evidence suggests that deputy Stuart did everything by the book and by his training."

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:54:21 PM
The jury is now in deliberation.

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:57:21 PM
Lots of cops, family and reporters milling around in the jail lobby while we wait for the jury's decision

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 9:59:32 PM
Jury: Hilger died by non-criminal Justifiable homicide

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/25/2013 10:06:04 PM
Updated results of coroner's inquest: It appears prior to being shot by a deputy, Hilger shot himself bit.ly/1b1bTaM via @bgcrime

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/26/2013 3:14:42 PM
Undercover @USFWSMtnPrairie investigation nabs #Helena restaurant owners with bucket of 12 bear paws bit.ly/IqIa4i via @IR_EveByron

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/26/2013 3:52:53 PM
#Joliet man who shot at officers sentenced; awaiting trial on accusation of infecting partner w/#HIV bit.ly/1fGOVh7 via @ZachBenoit

by Eddie Gregg via twitter 11/26/2013 8:45:15 PM