POTOSI - Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Rupp has decided that the fatal shooting of John Lynn Turntine Jr. in September was justifiable.

In a press release issued Thursday, Rupp said he came to that conclusion after reviewing reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Washington County Sheriff's Department, and 911 recordings, and after his office's own investigation. He previously said he went with investigating officers to the scene of where the man died to see what witnesses “could see and from where.”

Rupp said the 911 tapes corroborated the information provided by the deputies in their reports.

He said he has further determined that no charges will be filed as a result of this incident and that both deputies should be returned back to normal active duty.

In his press release, Rupp said Deputies Jason Louis and Cassie Kobert were dispatched on Sept. 3 to Seminole Lane in Washington County in response to a 911 call that reported Turntine was causing a disturbance and threatening to kill family members or himself.

He said before the deputies arrived, Turntine fled into a wooded area behind the residence. Deputies were told that the man was intoxicated.

The press release states deputies began searching for the man and Deputy Louis located what he believed to be the suspect in a field behind an adjoining residence. He said the deputy confirmed what the man was wearing and then crossed a barbwire fence to make contact with Turntine.

The press release further states the deputy determined that Turntine was armed with a knife and had made numerous threats to harm himself, the deputy or any other law enforcement officer who attempted to arrest him. The deputy attempted to calm Turntine down.

“Deputy Louis' attention was distracted from the subject (Turntine) momentarily,” the press release states. “At that point the subject approached him in a dangerous and aggressive manner with the knife at which time Deputy Louis stepped back, reacted, and fired a single shot that resulted in near instantaneous death ...”

Family members who were present at the home have disputed many of the statements the deputies made about what happened.

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