BILLINGS — A Montana police chief says an unarmed robbery suspect moved his hands six times in defiance of an officer’s orders before the officer fatally shot him during a traffic stop.
Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said Wednesday the officer’s decision to shoot 38-year-old Richard Ramirez three times was justified.
St. John says a search of the car in which Ramirez was a passenger found drug paraphernalia but no weapons.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the officer involved in Monday’s shooting because of general threats against law enforcement posted on social media.
Adding to the concern, St. John says two of the deceased’s brothers are wanted on felony charges.
Ramirez is the fifth person shot and killed by law enforcement in Billings in two years.