Prosecutor Says Use of Force Justified

C. Eric Hance, prosecuting attorney for the 16th Judicial District, has determined that deadly force was used appropriately by Stone County Deputy Michael Stephen and another deputy at the scene of a shoot-out on July 18 in which Stephen and resident Samuel Fullerton were killed.

A summary of the incident concluding with Hance’s determination and the prosecutor’s case file were made available to the Stone County Leader last week following a Freedom of Information request made to Hance’s office.

See the full story in the Dec. 4, 2019 issue.