Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/12/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DISTRICT ATTORNEY CONCLUDES OFFICERS WERE JUSTIFIED IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF SEBASTOPOL MAN

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that his office has completed its investigation into the death of Kenneth Hugh Duncan on November 11, 2004. The investigation concluded that Sheriff deputies were justified in shooting Mr. Duncan when he brandished and pointed a .38 caliber revolver at them.

Mr. Duncan was shot and killed by Sheriff deputies when they responded to his home to check on the welfare of his brother-in-law, Rodney Clint Williams. Deputies received a call from Mr. Williams’ wife expressing her concern for her husband’s safety. She told the dispatcher that she was speaking with her husband on a cell phone when she heard what sounded like a gunshot after he arrived at the Duncan residence.

Deputies on the scene later determined that Rodney Williams was killed outside the Duncan home. Neighbors reported that Duncan was calling them and speaking nonsensically. After repeated efforts to have Mr. Duncan exit his home, deputies observed him to walk out the door, state something that was not understood and point a revolver in the deputies’ direction. Four deputies, fearing for their safety, fired their guns at Mr. Duncan.

The autopsy on Mr. Duncan was performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Brian Peterson. It was determined that the cause of death was due to a penetrating gunshot wound to the neck.

The Sonoma County Law Enforcement Employee-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was invoked by the Sheriff’s Department. The investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Petaluma Police Department and Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. Detective Denise Urton was the lead detective for the police department. Deputy District Attorney James Patrick Casey and Senior Investigator Andy Mazzanti conducted the investigation for the District Attorney’s Office.