Stone charged with murder, other crimes in death of Aurora man

A Billings man was arrested in connection with the death of a man from Aurora on Sunday, March 30. Austin Stone, 24, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to a press release from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Stone is accused of killing Joshua B. Snider, 33. Per the probable cause statement in the case, Lawrence County Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call on March 30, in which a person identified as Witness One said, “Someone’s been shot.”
Deputies arrived on the scene at Farm Road 2240, east of Farm Road 1210 in Aurora, where they found Snider dead with a bullet wound to the chest. Witness One told them that a vehicle driven by Stone arrived, pulled up next to Snider’s vehicle, and then stopped in a ditch. The witness then said that Snider got out of his vehicle and walked over to Stone’s, at which point, Stone shot Snider and then drove off. A second witness, identified as Witness Two, gave a similar account of the shooting. Snider’s body was then turned over to the Lawrence County coroner.
According to a press release, Stone was apprehended by deputies from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and then turned over to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. After being informed of his Miranda rights, Stone declined to speak with an investigator. No motive was identified for the alleged shooting.
Stone has a previous conviction in Newton County. According to the criminal complaint against him, he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance on June 14, 2023. He is also wanted in Kansas on an unrelated charge.
As of press time, Stone remained in the Lawrence County Jail, where he is being held without bond. No court hearing date had been scheduled for him as of press time.