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Lodge Grass man killed by BIA officer identified

Posted at 10:10 AM, Apr 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-17 12:10:56-04

LOGE GRASS – The Lodge Grass man killed by a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer Sunday night was identified Tuesday by the coroner.

Big Horn County Coroner Terry Bullis identified the man killed as Ruben Stewart, 36, a Lodge Grass resident.

Stewart’s grandmother called police Sunday before 7 p.m. to have Stewart removed because he was intoxicated.

When the BIA officer arrived, Stewart began to move out of the house with a knife in hand, according to Lodge Grass Mayor Quincy Dabney.

Dabney said Stewart was barely on the porch when the officer shot him five or six times, killing him.

Dabney expressed concern about the use of deadly force in this situation.

The officer who fired shots has not been identified, but a BIA spokeswoman said the officer is on administrative leave.

The FBI, which is handling the investigation, has declined to comment. The BIA directed all information requests to the FBI.

RELATED: Lodge Grass mayor: BIA officer fatally shot man wielding hunting knife