California’s Butte County District Attorney ruled self-defense Monday over an incident in which a man was shot and killed at a homeless camp during a “gun duel.”
KRCRTV reported that the Butte County District Attorney’s Office made clear there will be no charges filed against Gerald Michael Thompson for the shooting death of Donald Laroy Stevens in Chico.
Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey put out a July 14, 2025, press release, noting that Stevens was shot in the head by Thompson at the homeless encampment on July 7, 2025.
Stevens was enraged at Thompson because Thompson’s dog “had severely mauled one of Stevens’ dogs earlier in the day.” Stevens retrieved a shotgun and allegedly threatened to kill Thompson. For his part, Thompson responded by grabbing a .22-caliber revolver. There was a face-off with Thompson eventually shooting one round, striking Stevens in the head.
Stevens died at the scene.
KRCRTV quoted DA Ramsey saying, “It was at that point a gun duel.”
Although Thompson faces no charges in the death of Stevens, he does face a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. That charge was filed against Thompson on Monday.
AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio, a member of Gun Owners of America, and the director of global marketing for Lone Star Hunts. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in 2010 and has a Ph.D. in Military History. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange. Reach him directly at
