Officer Involved Shooting Kit Carson County, March 15, 2024

On March 15, 2024, Sheriff Belden and Sgt. Bishop were attempting to protect a domestic violence victim from her abuser. Everett Jones was wanted on numerous charges, including three counts of felony menacing, for his actions of assaulting and threatening multiple individuals with a knife the night before he was killed. Both officers had strong, evidentiary reasons to fear for Ashley’s safety and to suspect that Jones would assault or kill her if he was back at her residence. They took every precaution possible to avoid a violent confrontation with Jones: they called Ashley and talked to her before going to her home, had her step away from the home to talk with them so she could know she was safe, repeatedly announced their presence before entering the home, and announced a third time before entering the room Jones was hiding in. Instead of responding, coming out of hiding, or surrendering peacefully, Jones hid until the officers were within a handful of feet. He then attempted to ambush them and assault them with a deadly weapon, namely, a large knife.

At that point, both officers’ lives were in immediate danger from Jones and they both fired, with multiple shots striking Jones. This leads me to the conclusion that Sheriff Belden and Sgt. Bishop were justified in using deadly force in self-defense, as well as in defense of each other. Accordingly, there is no basis for criminal prosecution as it relates to Sheriff Belden and Sgt. Bishop.

Further, I am compelled to emphasize that Sheriff Belden and Sgt. Bishop took every precaution possible to avoid this shooting. They were very thoughtful and deliberate in all that they did. They did everything in their power to protect Ashley and the community from a violent individual while also doing all that could be done to avoid a violent confrontation with Jones. Unfortunately, it appears that Jones wanted a violent confrontation that day. Jones is dead because of his decisions – his actions gave the officers no choice but to do what they did. The citizens of Kit Carson County should know that both officers were above reproach. Indeed, the officers are deserving of respect, admiration, and gratitude.