Chief: Hand movements justified fatal shooting

BILLINGS (AP) — An unarmed robbery suspect moved his hands six times in defiance of an officer's orders before the officer fatally shot him during a traffic stop, Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said Wednesday.

St. John said the actions captured on a police dash-cam video justified the officer's decision to draw his weapon and shoot Richard Ramirez, 38, three times.

"I'm upset we had a tragic end to this," St. John said. "I'm confident we did things properly."

A search of the car in which Ramirez was a passenger found drug paraphernalia but no weapons, St. John said.

Family members said after the shooting that Ramirez — a single father who was unemployed — had prior run-ins with authorities including for drugs. But they said he was not violent, and criticized the officer for over-reacting during Monday night's traffic stop.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the officer involved because of general threats against law enforcement that St. John said were posted on social media.

Adding to the concern, authorities said two of the deceased's brothers — Daniel and Jason Ramirez — are wanted on felony charges including drug possession, robbery and failure to register as a violent offender.