HELENA — A nine-person coroner's inquest jury found that three Helena police officers were justified in using deadly force when they shot a man last November.
Police were called to Jester's Bar in downtown Helena on November 2, 2024, to remove 40-year-old Paul Rolfes.
Rolfes had previously been trespassed from the bar but returned and barricaded himself in the bathroom.
Police attempted to subdue Rolfes using a taser but were unsuccessful.
Rolfes stabbed one officer as they tried to restrain him, leading the three officers — Nick Leshinski, Jacob Hamilton, and Bryce Liebel — to fire their service weapons, fatally injuring Rolfes.
Anaconda-Deer Lodge coroner Jesse Sather presided over the inquest, which was held over two days last week.
