William Newton Scott, a 38-year-old Caucasian male, died on May 26, 2017, in Twin Falls, Idaho, following a fatal shooting. The events of that evening unfolded at the Creekside Trailer Court on Addison Avenue West, where Scott, in the company of another man and a teenage male, went to confront 45-year-old Billy Duane Johnson at his residence.
An altercation broke out between the men, escalating into a physical struggle.
During this brief but intense confrontation, Johnson produced a firearm and shot Scott, who died at the scene. The Twin Falls Police Department launched a thorough investigation into the shooting. After an extensive review of the evidence, and in consultation with the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, authorities concluded that Johnson had acted in self-defense.
Prosecutors determined that Johnson reasonably believed the use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself from an attack. As a result, no homicide charges were filed against him in the death of William Newton Scott. However, the investigation did lead to a separate charge against Johnson for being a felon in possession of a firearm, to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecuting attorney described the incident as a tragedy resulting from a series of poor decisions.
