Colton Floren Obituary, Death; – A police officer from Pineville who fatally shot a suspect outside a bar will not be charged with any criminal offenses. Officer Kyle McClure shot Colton Floren in the parking lot of Tavern 51 at approximately 3:45 p.m. on January 11, 2025.
A patron had called 911 to report that another customer was armed and threatening to kill individuals inside the establishment. Upon arrival, Officer McClure confronted Floren in the parking area. According to police reports, the officer issued up to 13 verbal commands, which Floren failed to follow.
The officer discharged his firearm after perceiving a sudden movement from Floren, which he interpreted as an immediate threat to himself and others nearby. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather conducted a review of the incident and concluded that Officer McClure had reason to believe the deceased was armed.
Given the rapidly decreasing distance between them, the officer deemed it unsafe to holster his weapon and attempt to subdue Floren, considering the brief time it would take for Floren to potentially draw a firearm. The evidence available suggests that the State would struggle to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer McClure did not act in self-defense or in defense of others.
A jury might reasonably conclude that Officer McClure believed he was facing an armed individual approaching him with unclear intentions, despite having issued clear commands to halt. Furthermore, it would be unreasonable to expect Officer McClure to holster his weapon and try to subdue Floren, thereby risking the possibility of the suspect drawing and firing a weapon that Officer McClure believed, albeit mistakenly, was in Floren’s possession. Consequently, the State cannot meet the evidentiary requirements for a trial and will not pursue criminal charges in connection with Colton Floren’s death.
