Billings residents are still waiting for a mandatory coroner’s inquest into the fatal police shooting of 45‑year‑old James Bennett, an event that occurred on April 30, 2024. Bennett, a native of Lodge Grass who lived in the Crow Agency area, was livestreaming on Facebook Live while walking downtown with a machete when officers confronted him.
What happened on North 31st Street
Video from the First Interstate Tower shows Bennett standing on the sidewalk with the weapon as officers approached. An officer deployed a taser, after which Bennett fell to the ground. Seven officers moved in, and Officer Zach Wallis fired five shots at close range while Bennett was still on the ground. The entire shooting lasted about ten seconds. Bennett was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police account and family concerns
Police Chief Rich St. John told reporters that officers first tried to subdue Bennett with a taser, but the device became ineffective after he fell, and Bennett began resisting and reaching for the machete. Phillips, Bennett’s closest friend, disputes the taser’s effectiveness and calls the shooting “murder,” insisting Bennett was still being tased when he was shot.
Wallis was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident and no longer works for the Billings Police Department. The Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation.
Delay in scheduling the inquest
Montana law requires a coroner’s inquest when a death occurs under questionable circumstances, especially involving law enforcement. The inquest allows a jury to hear evidence and make findings. Yet, more than two years later, no date has been set. Former Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito, who previously said the inquest would be scheduled within six months, explained that the delay is due to the number of agencies and participants involved and the difficulty of coordinating their availability.
Twito, who resigned in October to become interim U.S. attorney for the District of Montana, indicated that officials hope to establish dates after the start of 2027, citing holiday schedules and participant availability as factors. He emphasized that while the timeline is longer than usual, some inquests have taken several years to resolve.
Family’s response and community effort
Phillips says the prolonged wait feels intentional and adds to his frustration, noting that the officer involved is no longer with the department, which raises further suspicion. He also shared that Bennett was battling stage‑four thyroid cancer and had recently undergone knee replacement surgery, describing his friend as a caring father, tattoo artist, and musician.
To honor Bennett’s memory, Phillips runs a music studio and is launching the “Pulse Project,” which will provide musical instruments to academically strong students who stay out of trouble. He hopes the project will keep Bennett’s love of music alive and counter negative portrayals in the media.
Looking ahead
As the community awaits the inquest, Phillips urges that Bennett’s story be remembered for who he was, not solely for the circumstances of his death. He continues to seek answers and accountability while working to ensure the young people in Billings have positive opportunities through his music initiative.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
