No charges filed in officer involved shooting

Special Appointed Prosecutor Patrick J. LeBrun has determined that no criminal charges will be filed against the two law enforcement officers involved in the shooting death of Jared Gottula, 41. The Wyoming Department of Criminal lnvestigation (WDCI) began its investigation on the afternoon of September 9, 2024, following the shooting at Gottula’s home.

In a joint statement released by Thermopolis Police Chief Pat Cornwell and Sheriff Jerimie Kraushaar, Thermopolis Police Officer Ryan Loving and Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Deputy Max Lee-Crain have been identified as the law officers involved in the shooting.

In LeBrun’s report, he states that Gottula was unemployed and suffering from diagnosed but untreated mental illness. He was wandering outdoors and behaving in a manner that caused a neighbor with a young child to become concerned for her family’s safety. The neighbor was also concerned for Gottula’s father who is an elderly gentleman residing in the home with Gottula. The neighbor observed Gottula walking and “thrashing” a metal baseball around. The neighbor contacted law enforcement and advised them of the situation she was observing.

According to the report, a Thermopolis Police Department (TPD) Officer arrived on scene and observed Gottula while he walked between two houses holding a metal baseball bat. The officer positioned his patrol vehicle in a manner he hoped would allow him to safely assess the situation. The TPD officer used his loud speaker and requested that Gottula put down the baseball bat. The report states, “Gottula became enraged at the office’s request and began charging toward the officer’s vehicle, raised bat in hand.”

The report states that in reacting to the situation, the officer bumped Gottula with his patrol vehicle hoping to dislodge the bat from his grasp. The bumping was ineffective and Gottula retained the bat. Gottula maneuvered himself towards the driver’s side door of the office’s patrol vehicle. The officer powered his vehicle into reverse in an effort to gain separation.

As the officer reversed his vehicle, Gottula was able to open the officer’s unlocked door. The officer continued in reverse while Gottula followed. Gottula opened the officer’s door yet again, this time as the officer powered his vehicle in a forward direction. Gottula pursued the vehilce up the street. lt was at this time that a Hot Springs County (HSC) Sheriff Deputy arrived on scene and become involved for the remainder of the interaction with Gottula.

According to the report, the officer gained separation from Gottula and turned his vehicle around. The officer struck Gottula with his vehicle again. This caused a loud noise, however, it is unclear if the noise was caused by Gottula’s bat striking the officer’s vehicle, but Gottula was knocked to the ground. The report states that Gottula still did not drop the bat, regained his feet and continued to move towards and threaten the officer. The officer reversed his vehicle into an adjacent vacant lot. The officer put his vehicle into forward and attempted to strike Gottula again. It is unclear if the officer was able to strike Gottula at this time, but Gottula still had the bat. The officer continued in a loop through the vacant lot turning his vehicle around. The officer then struck Gottula again, knocking him to the ground. He again returned to his feet, bat still in hand. 

The report states that Gottula then walked up a nearby railroad berm and engaged from a short distance in conversation with the HSC Deputy who had arrived. Gottula asked why law enforcement was there. The HSC Deputy advised that it was because Gottula was being a threat. The report says, “It is important to note that throughout the entire encounter, law enforcement and citizen witnesses hollered on numerous occasions pleading with Gottula to drop the bat.”

According to LeBrun’s report, Gottula began walking down the berm, bat still in hand. He walked towards the TPD patrol vehicle while holding the bat and resting the bat on his shoulder.

The report goes on to state, “From the manner in which Gottula was holding the bat, coupled with his stride, indicated that Gottula was attempting to intimidate the deputy. Gottula arrived at the TPD vehicle and looked inside the passenger window. Gottula is heard saying something to the effect that he has guns also, in response to a citizen hollering that he could get shot. Simultaneously, the TPD officer exited the patrol vehicle and walked towards the rear of the vehicle. The deputy remained towards the front of the patrol vehicle on the passenger side with an unobstructed view of Gottula.”

At this point, the TPD officer drew his taser and walked around the back of his vehicle. According to the report, the TPD officer intended to target Gottula with the taser. It states, “Gottula became aware of the officer’s presence. Gottula raised the bat in a pose to strike and simultaneously leap stepped toward the officer seemingly with the intent to hit the officer with the bat. The TPD officer dodged out of the way. The TPD officer was able to discharge his taser either immediately before, during or immediately after Gottula’s attempted strike.”

According to the report, Gottula appeared unfazed by the taser. “Gottula then made a sound that may be described as a guttural battle scream, unclear if driven by bravado or irrationality but nevertheless terrifying. Gottula then turned his attention toward the HSC deputy and began walking towards the deputy and the deputy briefly retreated. Gottula raised the bat in his right hand and the deputy began firing his service weapon at Gottula.”

LeBrun’s report finds that the HSC deputy’s action in firing his weapon was reasonable. “A metal baseball bat is a weapon capable of causing death or great bodily injury. Gottula had given every indication of his intention to use the bat violently. Gottula’s behavior, throughout the entire encounter, indicated he wanted the deputy and officer to believe he would hurt them with the bat. Gottula appeared to be trying to do so at that moment and he was within several feet of accomplishing his apparent goal,” states the report.

The TPD officer observed Gottula advancing towards the HSC deputy bat in hand. “It appeared to the officer that the deputy’s rounds were not having effect. The officer later described that Gottula seemed to believe he was unstoppable and it was like a bad dream. The TPD officer drew his service weapon and also began firing at Gottula,” states the report.

In LeBrun’s conslusion he states, “The minds of the law enforcement personnel involved in this case from beginning to end were focused on stopping Gottula’s dangerous and threatening behavior in the least violent manner possible. They were required to do so with not only their safety in mind but the safety of several citizen bystanders that had gathered in the immediate vicinity of the encounter.”

LeBrun report states, “From the beginning of the encounter until its conclusion, Gottula showed focus and determination to cause harm to the law enforcement. Gottula chased the TPD officer with a metal baseball bat, opened the officer’s door to get to him, and nearly got close enough at one point to strike the officer. Gottula was hit by a vehicle multiple times and targeted with a taser, yet he would not yield his assault. Most notably, Gottula refused to drop the baseball bat throughout the entire encounter. Never once did Mr. Gottula give any indication he intended to surrender. Gottula refused to accept any outcome other than hurting one or both of the peace officers or be stopped by some level of force. Gottula was given ample opportunity to avoid this outcome. He simply would not stop the violence. Likely, Gottula’s mental illness played a role in his dangerous and terrifying behavior. However, nothing about Gottula’s mental illness reduced the right of the deputy or the officer to defend each other or themselves from violent attack.”

Between the two law enforcement personnel more than twenty rounds were fired at Gottula and he was shot numerous times. The report states, “Also, it is apparent that the HSC deputy fired several rounds at Gottula after he was going down or on the ground.”

LeBrun’s report adds that “These facts do not change the ultimate opinion that no charges will be filed. The deputy fired his weapon very rapidly which is common in traumatic life or death self-defense shootings. That the deputy’s very personal trauma experience caused him brief delay in recognizing the threat to his life had probably ended, does not convert this into a criminal matter.”

According to LeBrun’s report, the HSC deputy had legitimate reason to believe that any further delay in firing his weapon would have resulted in great harm to himself. The HSC deputy acted reasonably under Wyoming law. No criminal charges will be filed.

The report also states, the TPD officer had legitimate reason to believe Gottula was determined to cause great harm to the HSC deputy and any further delay in firing his weapon could have resulted in great harm to the deputy. The TPD officer acted reasonably under Wyoming law. No criminal charges will be filed. 

Release of body-worn camera and dash camera footage

In a press release issued joint statement by the Thermopolis Police Department and the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office was issued regarding the release of body-worn camera and dash camera footage from the officer-involved shooting on September 9, 2024, that resulted in the death of Jared Gottula.

“In response to multiple requests under the Wyoming Public Records Act, we are preparing to release the body-worn camera footage of Thermopolis Police Officer Ryan Loving and the body-worn and dash camera footage of Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Deputy Max Lee-Crain from the officer-involved shooting. Additionally, footage from an adjacent property captured moments of the incident. This footage will also be included in the official release,” stated the press release.

Prior to the release of Special Prosecutor Patrick LeBrun’s findings on February 7, 2025, both agencies determined that, due to the sensitive nature of the incident and concerns surrounding mental illness, it was not appropriate to release the footage. However, the press release states, “Following Mr. LeBrun’s report, which concluded that no charges would be filed against either the officer or the deputy, both agencies have reassessed this decision in light of public records requests and the importance of public confidence.”

The release of this footage will be done jointly to ensure consistency, clarity, and transparency. Both departments are working together to compile and prepare the footage for release, including necessary redactions to protect the privacy of bystanders. Due to limited resources, this process will take time, and we ask for patience from those who have submitted requests.

The footage is expected to be released this week. Those who have previously submitted requests will be provided access to the footage at the time of its official release.

For any further inquiries, please contact Thermopolis Police Department Chief Pat Cornwell or Hot Springs County Sheriff Jerimie Kraushaar at (307) 864-3114.