Coroner`s Inquest

A coroner`s panel makes a determination on whether it was justified for a four state police officer to use deadly force. Carterville Police Sergeant Sara Gerber is currently on paid administrative leave after fatally shooting Jesse Hembree of Webb City. The incident happened last weekend at the self serve convenience store in Carterville. The jurors went into deliberations just before 4 o`clock and were able to decide whether officer Sara Gerber used justifiable force in shooting Jesse Hembree. They determined officer gerber did use justifiable force. They jury determined the shooting was justifiable because she had been following what is described as the ladder of force. According to witnesses she first used verbal commands and then mace. She also tried to use numchucks to restrain hembree. When that was unsuccessful, witnesses say she used the numchucks to hit him. It wasn`t until Hembree took the numchucks from officer Gerber that she fired her weapon. While the jury`s decision isn`t binding, Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Dean Dankelson says hearing the public`s opinion does make a difference. Dankelson says the next step is for him to receive the sheriff`s department`s recommendation and then he`ll make his final decision. Again Jim and Tiffany, the jury concluded that officer Sara Gerber did use justifiable force in shooting Jesse Hembree. Reported By: Jennifer Grannan