Fri Feb 28 08:10:00 UTC 2025: **Indiana Man, Jan. 6 Pardoned Rioter, Fatally Shot by Deputy During Traffic Stop**
**Jasper County, IN –** Body camera footage released Thursday shows the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Matthew Huttle, 42, by a Jasper County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop on January 26th. Huttle, who had been pardoned by President Trump for his participation in the January 6th Capitol riot, was pulled over for speeding.
According to a statement from Special Prosecutor Chris Vawter, Huttle, who had a history of traffic violations, was told he was under arrest for a felony traffic offense. The video shows Huttle stating he couldn’t afford further legal trouble, then running to his vehicle, claiming he would shoot himself, and appearing to reach for a handgun. A struggle ensued, and the deputy fired his weapon.
While the video is partially obscured during the shooting, investigators found a loaded 9mm handgun and ammunition in Huttle’s car. Dashcam footage corroborated that Huttle raised an object inside the vehicle. Vawter concluded that the deputy was legally justified in using deadly force, citing the imminent threat posed by Huttle reaching for a weapon during an arrest for a felony. The investigation is closed. The deputy had been placed on administrative leave following the incident, a standard procedure in such cases.
Huttle, who pleaded guilty to entering a restricted building during the January 6th riot and served a prison sentence before receiving a presidential pardon, had openly admitted his involvement to the deputy during the traffic stop. The prosecutor’s office emphasized the existence of probable cause for the felony arrest and the deputy’s right to self-defense.
First Piper 