Stephen Campbell, a 44-year-old White man, was a plumber who had moved to Belgrade, Montana, from his native Southern California about eight years before his death. Described by friends and family as a passionate and caring person who was always there for others, he was known as a "lover, not a fighter." A co-worker remembered him as someone you could always count on, while a childhood friend recalled that he was never a violent person.
Late on the night of Friday, April 19, 2024, a
confrontation unfolded between Campbell and his neighbor, 44-year-old Jordan Palmer, in the 800 block of Mantle Drive. The encounter began near a set of mailboxes, where Campbell reportedly accused Palmer of trying to break into cars. The argument escalated, and Palmer fired a pistol seven times, striking Campbell. Police were dispatched around 11:30 p.m. for reports of gunshots.
When officers arrived, they found Palmer standing over Campbell, who was on the ground with multiple bullet wounds, including two visible in his chest. A pistol was lying nearby. Palmer told officers, "This guy just attacked me, I f*ing shot him." First responders performed life-saving measures on Campbell before he was transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. A deputy coroner later confirmed his cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
Palmer was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with deliberate homicide. He pleaded not guilty, and his bail was set at $750,000. The case went to trial in Gallatin County in the summer of 2025, centering on Palmer's claim of self-defense. Prosecutors argued that Palmer intentionally killed Campbell in response to a verbal accusation and that surveillance footage did not show Campbell making an aggressive advance. The defense countered that Palmer fired while backing away from Campbell, who they alleged had threatened Palmer, thrown down a cigarette, and swung at him. During the trial, a toxicologist testified that Campbell’s blood alcohol level was .301 when it was drawn at the hospital.
In August 2025, a jury found Jordan Palmer not guilty of deliberate homicide, accepting his argument that he had acted in self-defense. Following the acquittal, Campbell’s family and friends expressed their heartbreak and disbelief, stating that they felt justice had not been served for their loved one.
