Officer Involved Deaths Ruled Accidental

June 14, 2023

On Friday, June 9, 2023, the coroner’s inquest regarding the officer involved deaths of Jesse Beck, a 45-year-old Carbon County man, and Darren Shull, a 52-year-old man from Yellowstone County, found that the deaths were accidental with no criminal liability attached to the officer.  The ruling came after two days of testimony from witnesses, professional accident and homicide investigators, and the officer himself. The courtroom was packed both days with loved ones and supporters of Shull and Beck.  The testimony presented the following facts.

The incident began at approximately 10:00 p.m. on July 15, 2022, after the men had each enjoyed the motorcycle rally in Red Lodge. Headed north on Highway 212, Jesse Beck was riding a motorcycle and Darren Shull driving a car.  Shull called 911 Dispatch concerned about the erratic progress of Beck’s motorcycle.  During this time, Beck lost control of his motorcycle which went off the highway, leaving Beck unconscious in the southbou…