Russell was commended by Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott in a Facebook post:

Russell was “justified in using deadly force when he reasonably believed that the use of such force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great harm,” the SAO concluded after reviewing the case. bodily harm to Deputy Dean Bardes or to stop Deputy Bardes from being the victim of an impending forcible felony.

Based on the information provided by this investigation and the relevant legislation, our agency review is closed, and this office will not take any further action. The Washington Post mentioned the dissenting opinion expressed by the deceased’s brother, Louis Strother.

He questioned, “They’re calling him a good Samaritan?” “Did my brother have a gun?”