Basin, Wyoming

From the Casper Star Tribune of March 25, 2005

No charges in shooting death

No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a Montana man at a campground last weekend after an investigation determined the shooting was likely "justifiable," according to the Big Horn County Sheriff's Department.

Larry P. Thomas, 44, of Roundup, Mont., was found dead Sunday afternoon from a single gunshot wound near the Five Springs Campground, Sheriff Dave Mattis said.

"All the information we have now" indicates Thomas was shot while he was assaulting a man, Mattis said. That man and another man were detained in the Big Horn County Jail while police investigated.

"We're not saying that the homicide was entirely justifiable, but we're saying no charges will be filed," Mattis said.
…

When the two men left in their vehicle, Thomas rammed them from behind with his pickup "for some unknown reason" and off the roadway, according to a sheriff's office news release. Thomas then attacked the driver of the first vehicle and began slamming his head against rocks.

The passenger of the first vehicle grabbed his rifle, warned Thomas to stop and shot him after he continued to beat the other man's head into the rocks, according to the sheriff's office.

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