Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Keatts spotted Robinette's van speeding on the James River Freeway. When he got behind the van, Keatts saw it go off the right shoulder, weave across both lanes to the left shoulder and then return to the center of the highway. That's when Keatts pulled her over near Highway MM.
Robinette stopped but wouldn't get out of the minivan and continued talking on the telephone. Keatts grabbed the phone and ended the call. He also reached in and put the minivan in park and turned off the ignition.
Robinette refused to unbuckle her seat belt and get out of the car. The deputy unbuckled the seat belt. That's when she pulled a pink-handled silver-barreled handgun out from between the seats, pointed it at Keatts and pulled the trigger.
The gun only clicked -- twice, it turns out -- as Keatts backed away. The deputy fired five shots in self-defense, hitting Robinette four times. A shot to her head was fatal.
The investigation revealed Robinette was talking to a friend on her cellular telephone when she was stopped. The friend said Robinette told her, "I have a gun and I'm not letting him take me in."
The autopsy showed Robinette's blood alcohol level was .225 percent. The legal limit in Missouri for a driver is .08 percent.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol shadowed the Greene County Sheriff's Department's investigation of the shooting. Keatts was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting; that's routine in most law enforcement departments after an officer uses deadly force.
"The officer exercised force which he reasonably believed to be necessary to prevent serious physical injury or death to himself," Patterson wrote in concluding his report. "There will be no further action by this office in regards to the conduct of the officer in this case."
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The traffic stop and shooting was recorded by the dash camera on Keatts' vehicle. News agencies have requested copies of that video. Because it was used in the investigation, the video wasn't released.
Patterson said Thursday that the video would now be available to reporters who filed Sunshine Law requests. Patterson said the requests likely will be granted within three business days. The prosecutor said Sheriff Jim Arnott, on behalf of Keatts and Robinette's family, objects to the showing of the video in newscasts and websites.
KY3 is among agencies that filed a Sunshine Law request. News Director Scott Brady says a decision on airing the video will be made after he and others in the newsroom review it and discuss whether it is appropriate to air some or all of it.
