BILLINGS- A coroner’s inquest jury ruled Tuesday that two Billings police officers were justified in shooting and killing a Shepherd man in January in downtown Billings.
The jury deliberated for about a half hour before ruling the Jan. 20 death of Chance Mavity, 26, was a justifiable homicide.
Police had responded to a report of three individuals trying to sell stolen guns. When they arrived, Mavity fled on foot, and Officers Kody Kaiser and Brad Mansur told him to stop.
Instead, he raised a gun and fired at officer Kaiser, and after exchanging multiple shots Mavity died at the scene.
During the coroner’s inquest Tuesday, Ed Zinke, Yellowstone County chief deputy county attorney, presented evidence of the case through investigators and testimonies from the officers themselves.
The chief medical examiner also testified, confirming that Mavity died from multiple gunshot wounds. He also said a high dose of methamphetamine was found.
Zinke asked officer Kaiser, the officer in the direct gun fight with Mavity, how he felt in the very moments after the exchange.
“At this point I was angry. I was very angry,” Kaiser said. “Number one because this man forced me to take his life. Number two because this man tried to take my life and take me away from my family.”
Related: Billings police chief: Shepherd man shot and killed by officers had violent history
