Marion Man Charged With Killing Turner County Deputy

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A Turner County Sheriff's Deputy was shot and killed Sunday morning on this farmstead near Marion, South Dakota.

By Associated Press

Story Created: Mar 16, 2009 at 10:24 AM CST

Story Updated: Mar 16, 2009 at 2:54 PM CST

A 19-year-old Marion man will make his first court appearance Monday in Parker on a charge he shot and killed a Turner County sheriff's deputy.

Authorities say 33-year-old Deputy Chad Mechels was checking the well-being of Ethan Johns on Sunday morning at a farmhouse five miles west of Marion when Johns shot Mechels.

Johns called 911 again and reported the shooting, then took off.
He surrendered hours later in Sioux Falls.

Mechels was married and had two children, a 7-year-old daughter
and 3-year-old son. He previously worked in law enforcement in Lake
and Kingsbury counties before joining the Turner County Sheriff's
Department last fall.

He still lived in Madison but stayed with his parents in Chancellor the days he was on duty.

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Thursday, Mar 19 at 4:14 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I have no sympothy for Ethan either, and pray that he will get what he deserves for what he has done. However, I know him and most of his family, and they did try to get him help. It was one of his family memebers that made the call that sent the deputy Mechels to his house in the first place, and that family member feels resposible for what happened. His family did not commit this crime, he did! My thoughts and prayers go out to ALL of the people involved and that includes Ethan's family.

Wednesday, Mar 18 at 8:44 AM jp wrote ...

If he was not mentally stable then his family and friends should have stepped in and got him some help, since they didn't an innocent man is dead for doing his job. I'm sorry but "great" people don't shoot cops or anyone for that matter. Justice will be served, at the very least he will rot in prison or even better the death penalty. He had no reason to shoot Chad, he wasn't threatening him, he was checking on him & this was the thanks he got.I have no sympathy for E.J.

Tuesday, Mar 17 at 5:06 PM D.G. wrote ...

Miller...you got it. Who are we to judge? not our job. My heart goes out to the officers family..as well as Ethans. He was not mentally stable. I knew him personally and will say that he was a great person. Ethan was not a NUT JOB with a gun. So people let's try to have a little respect...there is two families involved in this horrible tragedy. My heart cry's for Chad's wife and children.

Tuesday, Mar 17 at 7:42 AM mr smith wrote ...

lets hope this knucklehead trys to escape and so he can be shot on site by the fellow deputies of Deputy Chad Mechels worked with.

Tuesday, Mar 17 at 7:26 AM Disgusted wrote ...

Fry him!

Tuesday, Mar 17 at 5:31 AM Tom Alciere wrote ...

Monday, Mar 16 at 11:47 PM jayne wrote ...

all i have to say and im sure i will be criticized for this and its this....we can all say shot the kid or put him to death ...i think the deputy in this case believed in the judicial system or he wouldnt be employed as a deputy...i think he would want us all to rally together for his fellow officers and more importantly his family...my thoughts and prayers go to his family, friends, fellow law enforcement and the lives he touched daily

Monday, Mar 16 at 6:05 PM Miller native wrote ...

In addition I would like to add that two lives have been lost. They are both GOD's children and its unfortunate this EVER had to happen. Im afraid there is going to be more and more of this, with the way the world is going.... tragic.

Monday, Mar 16 at 6:02 PM miller native wrote ...

I would have to say that I think this is a sad deal... for both parties. We prob dont know what kind of a situation the shooter has been in. Mental health is a serious issue when will we start paying attention to it?

Monday, Mar 16 at 5:21 PM rick wrote ...

bash,bash,bash. to bad this happened. maybe next time things can go different. the kid needs help, not to be put to death. bash,bash,bash.

Monday, Mar 16 at 2:32 PM Sarah wrote ...

As a wife of a law enforcement officer, these stories scare the death out of me. When will my husband come across a nut job with gun? When will my family be left without a father? I love him and he loves his job, but I can't help but be scared for him every minute that he is in that uniform. Please parents teach your children that police are not the enemy, and don't deserve any of the harrasement, name-calling, and especially the physical harm. My prayers to his family. We are all with you.

Monday, Mar 16 at 12:19 PM huh wrote ...

i say hang that kid for that.what a dumb donkey.

Monday, Mar 16 at 12:13 PM jp wrote ...

God bless the family of Chad. God bless ALL law enforcement offices. They are underpaid and under appreciated for all that they do. May they all come home safe.

Monday, Mar 16 at 11:20 AM me wrote ...

Well where are the people who are always bashing law enforcement now? Got nothing to says. God bless our BROTHER!!

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