Jury: Killing of Belgrade suspect who wounded officer was justified

A nine-member jury determined a Belgrade Police officer’s killing of a suspect during an October 2025 incident was justified.

Preceding the fatal shooting, Devin Scheurn, 37, shot Belgrade Police Department Sgt. Jarrod Robinson before fellow officer Mitch Good returned fire, killing Scheurn. The verdict concludes formal legal inquiries into Scheurn’s death, according to Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell.

“I am thankful Sgt. Robinson was not killed,” Cromwell said after the Tuesday proceeding in Gallatin District Court. “The jury found that Officer Good acted reasonably under those circumstances and in accordance with the law. While any loss of life is deeply tragic, this process provides a thorough and public review so the community can understand what occurred.”

Belgrade Police Chief Dustin Lensing also weighed in after the jury finding.

“This was a tragic event, and there are no easy outcomes in circumstances like these,” Lensing said.

“It is also a solemn reminder of the realities of police work, where officers are sometimes called upon to make immediate decisions in rapidly evolving and dangerous situations. These moments carry immense responsibility, and no officer ever hopes to face them.”

Jurors heard testimony from Robinson and Good. Both policemen recalled their actions after body and vehicle camera recordings of the incident were played in the courtroom.

A coroner’s inquest is a fact-finding proceeding, not a criminal prosecution. With the jury’s determination that use of force was justified and not criminal, no corresponding charges will be filed against law enforcement in connection with the shooting, per Cromwell.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office detective Sandy Schroeder also recalled her post-shooting investigation during the hearing. Both a forensic pathologist and a special agent later testified.

Coroner’s inquests are mandatory when an in-custody death occurs in Montana. An acceptable determination requires a five-juror majority reaching a consensus.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Coroner Jessie Sather presided over the case. Sather heard evidence presented by the prosecution to determine the facts surrounding the shooting. Finding facts is the focus of the proceeding, not necessarily the establishing criminal or civil liability.

Cromwell presented evidence, calling and examining witnesses. The court proceeding took less than six hours. The entire incident it addressed was over within 15 minutes.

Belgrade Police responded to a 911 hangup call from Scheurn on Crockett Way at 5:18 p.m. Oct. 27.

“There is a resident here who has an active warrant, a misdemeanor,” a man presumed to be Scheurn said of himself in the emergency call replayed for jurors.

“Hold on one second,” the dispatcher said before asking the caller thrice to repeat his address.

“No, you hold on,” the caller retorted, not repeating his address. The call disconnected.

Dispatchers attempted to call the number back, only reaching voicemail. Within two minutes, Robinson and Good responded to the initial call.

Good notified dispatchers at 5:25 p.m. Scheurn was likely armed. Shots were fired by 5:32 p.m. Scheurn was reported down at 5:34 p.m.

The approximate time of his death was determined to be 5:42 p.m., per Cromwell.

“When officers arrived at the residence, they spoke with Mr. Scheurn’s parents, who indicated he was not himself, and that he had access to firearms in the home,” Cromwell said.

“You need more people,” Kenneth Scheurn, the deceased’s father, said in at least two separate video recordings before indicating the younger Scheurn had two handguns. “He’s been calling help centers. We’ve been battling this for weeks. He’s lost it.”

Scheurn was on depression medication, per his father in the recording.

“Do you think he’s going to be violent to us,” Robinson asked.

“He could be,” Ken Schuern said. “He’s looking for help and he can’t get it.”

After, Robinson attempted to call Scheurn on the phone. Robinson’s body camera only recorded his side of the phone call with Scheurn. The recording was played for the jury.

“We’re just concerned about what’s going on with you,” Robinson said to Scheurn on the phone. “Are you wanting to harm yourself? What’s going on? Your father said you called us for help.”

The phone call ended. Robinson entered his patrol vehicle before typing on his duty computer.

“f---!,” Robinson yelled, gasping. Shattering glass broke the silence in the cruiser. “I’m hit in the arm.”

Alternate video footage showed Scheurn walking out of the residence side-gate, firing at Robinson’s vehicle, wounding him in the shoulder.

Good returned fire with his patrol rifle. Scheurn dropped to the ground.

“I just felt the blast of the glass coming at me,” Robinson said on the stand. “I didn’t know exactly where it was coming from. I was just in shock.”

The bullet tore down the backside of Scheurn’s right arm before stopping six inches from the skin surface.

Robinson did not fully realize he was shot until seeking help from another officer at a nearby parked patrol car. The bullet fractured Robinson’s acromion, a bony projection forming the shoulder surface connecting to the collarbone.

Robinson was placed on administrative leave and then workman’s compensation until Jan. 1. His injuries are expected to fully heal. He is back on the job and cleared for duty,

“We respond to those types of calls, (disturbances) almost daily,” Robinson said. “It was very odd to begin with. When we first got there, the parents came from the side of the house, which is not normal for us. You would expect someone to come out the front door.”

“One hundred percent,” Robinson replied, when Cromwell asked him if he could have been killed without lethal police intervention.

“One hundred,” Good echoed when Cromwell inquired if he thought Robinson was shot or dead at the time. “I could see blast-dust flying up from the gunshots going into the car.”

The dust cleared. Good saw Scheurn approaching Robinson’s vehicle. Good shot six bullets at Scheurn.

Dr. Deland Weyrauch from the Montana State Medical Examiner’s Office testified that Scheurn was struck with three bullets. One was penetrating and two were superficial.

Good was effectively alone with a third officer on scene tending to Robinson from another patrol vehicle. Good used this reason to justify not rendering aid to Robinson — because the scene was not secure.

After his testimony, a juror asked Good if the scene needs to be cleared or deemed safe before paramedics can begin administering care.

“When you approached Devin, you were unsure if he was dead or alive,” said another juror to Good, who responded affirmatively to both questions.

Good, also immediately placed on administrative leave after the incident before his reinstatement, received two Lifesaving Awards, the Medal of Valor and Chief’s Award for Excellence at the 2026 Belgrade Police Department’s annual awards ceremony Feb. 19. Robinson received a purple heart and was named supervisor of the year.

“The first thing (Ken) said to Sergeant Robinson was ‘you’re going to need more people here’,” Good said. “That being the first thing ‘you’ say to an officer when they arrive at your house is a red flag.”