Dean Randolph Jess
Dean Randolph Jess had worked for the Montana State Prison's motor vehicle maintenance crew since 2006, and prison officials said he was not a problem for staff. On July 5, 2013, he walked away from a service call with the crew and was reported to have taken a stolen Jeep, which was boxed in at a Billings shopping center. After a standoff of 15 to 20 minutes, Yellowstone County deputies shot him, and Sheriff Mike Linder said Jess moved a handgun toward a deputy. Early reports said it was not immediately clear whether Jess had fired any shots, and a coroner's inquest was to review whether the shooting was justified.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff. Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder said a deputy shot Jess and called the shooting justified, and a coroner's inquest was to review it.
Reported by: Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder.