Police shooting ruled self-defense

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- A police sergeant acted in self-defense when she fatally shot a suspected shoplifter, a coroner's jury ruled.

The panel deliberated about 20 minutes Thursday before ruling in the incident that involved Carterville police Sgt. Sara Gerber. She shot Jesse Hembree, 48, of Webb City, on Sunday near a convenience store in Carterville. Gerber said she was attempting to arrest Hembree on allegations he had shoplifted beer and cigarettes when he began hitting her in the head.

Gerber said in her report that she fired her gun six times after she was unable to subdue Hembree with Mace and numchuks. A forensic pathologist testified that Hembree was hit four times. Shots to his head and aorta were deadly, he said.

The testimony of two eyewitnesses supported statements made by Gerber. One of Hembree's relatives, however, told jurors Hembree didn't resist arrest. He agreed Hembree had grabbed the numchucks but said he didn't believe Hembree intended to hit Gerber.