Deputies responded after a person contacted dispatch saying Ronald Audette was making disturbing comments and was planning a mass shooting. Audette spoke on the phone with deputies but refused to come out of his home and hung up. He came out of the home with a revolver in hand. Audette didn't acknowledge multiple commands by deputies and continued walking toward an open field before raising his gun. He was shot and killed by Deputies Benjamin Fowler, Michael Santana, and Ryan King.
Victim's Name: Ronald Audette
Agency Responsible: Columbia County Sheriff's Office
Gender: Male
Age: 61
Race: Unknown race
Date of Death: October 3, 2019
County: Columbia
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Justified by District Attorney
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: gun
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 5075
Geography: Suburban