DNA shows Bell shot bear in defense of friend

December 22, 2011

Forensic evidence has revealed that the bullet fired by 20-year-old Ty Bell, formerly of Bonners Ferry, killing his friend and hunting companion, Steve Stevenson, 39, Winnemucca, Nevada, was not a wild shot, but was one of many fired by the young man in an effort to save his friend from a wounded bear. The Lincoln County, Montana, Sheriff's office yesterday disclosed DNA evidnce providing conclusive proof that the shot, from the 30-06 bullet that killed Stevenson, fired by Bell, went through the bear before hitting the man who died. "I hate seeing this in the news again," said Bell's mom, Candy Bell, "but it is a good thing." For the first time in many years, Ty isn't coming to Boundary County to visit his family, staying instead at his home in Winnemucca to see how the incident plays out. While no criminal charges have been laid as yet, her son, Candy said, is living in limbo. "Ty is living with what happened every day," she said. "He knows he made a mistake in identifying the bear, but he knows he did the right thing after the mistake was made." Rather than leave a wounded bear to suffer, he and Steve tracked the bear and waited more than two hours before going in to finish the kill. The grizzly, no less dangerous because it's an endangered species, wasn't dead, and he did what bears wounded bears do, he attacked. If there's a hero in this incident, it would be Steve, because as the bear went after Ty, Steve put himself in harm's way and shifted the bear's attention from his young friend to himself, and he stood to face the ferocious attack. Ty Bell reacted, too, emptying his rifle into the bear and then grabbing up the rifle Steve dropped and emptying it as well. He killed the bear. While it's proven that the shot that killed Steve was fired from Ty's rifle, it's now clear that Ty didn't miss ... the shot he fired went through the bear before it lodged in Steve Stevenson's chest. Based on the evidence gleaned thus far, Ty has been told that he will not face federal charges for shooting an endagered species, and the threat of local homicide charges look less likely based on the new evidence. The Lincoln County sheriff Roby Bowe aid he's not recommending such charges, calling this a terrible tragedy ... a terrible accident. The decision as to whether local charges are warranted, he said, belongs to Lincoln County, Montana, prosecutor Bernard Cassidy. Ty isn't coming home to Bonners Ferry this Christmas; as it's his decision that he doesn't want to visit what he's going through on his mother or on any of his family or friends who live here ... he's staying in Winnemucca. "I wish he could come home," Candy said.