GRAND JUNCTION — The supervisor of a state trooper charged with fatally shooting an unarmed suspect says the trooper was distraught and yelled “I thought he had a weapon” after the shooting.
Ivan “Gene” Lawyer is on trial in Mesa County District Court on charges of criminally negligent homicide, assault, trespass and other charges in the 2010 death of 31-year-old Jason Kemp.
Lawyer and another trooper went to Kemp’s home while investigating an accident. Authorities say Kemp wouldn’t let them in without a warrant and struggled with the troopers at the door.
An indictment quotes Lawyer as saying he thought Kemp fired a gun at him, so he fired at Kemp.
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports State Patrol Sgt. Chad Dunlap testified Thursday that Lawyer repeatedly asked “why?” after the shooting.
