The State Attorney General’s Office says the officer-involved fatal shooting of a suspect that happened in Greene County in September was legally justified. 

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Boone Police Officer Marshall Moore was trying to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 30 for an inoperable taillight at 10:24pm on September 6th. However, the AG’s Office notes that the driver, 18-year-old Camryn Stonehocker refused and a chase ensued, along Highway 30. 

According to the report, Stonehocker slammed on his brakes twice in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt for patrol vehicles to collide with him. The report shows that the chase ended just west of Grand Junction on T Avenue when Stonehocker exited the vehicle and started walking toward Officer Moore, pointing a large survival knife at him and refused commands to drop the weapon. The Attorney General’s Office states that at the same time, another Boone Police Officer, Josh Olsen, approached Stonehocker from behind and Stonehocker turned and aimed the knife at Olsen. 

The report states that Moore saw Stonehocker turn his knife onto Olsen, Moore was fearing for his safety and for Olsen’s and he fired his weapon to prevent Stonehocker from stabbing Olsen. Stonehocker then fell to the ground and stopped moving. The knife was removed from Stonehocker’s hand and medical aid was given. Stonehocker later died from his injuries en route to a hospital. 

The AG’s Office concludes that the firing of the officer’s weapon was justified and that Stonehocker escalated the situation by refusing to pull over for a traffic stop and led law enforcement on a 17 minute chase. The report shows that Stonehocker was also driving without headlights and crossing the centerline several times with oncoming traffic. Interviews with friends and family revealed that Stonehocker felt frustrated with prior encounters with law enforcement and that he received traffic citations two weeks before the September 8th incident. The report concludes that Stonehocker was exhibiting more argumentative behavior the last two years, coinciding with his use of marijuana.