UPDATE – Missoula Man Shot In the Leg – Police Say Victim Shot Himself

UPDATE 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 6

After Missoula police investigated the shooting incident on Cooley Street early Monday morning, they determined that the victim shot himself.

Sergeant Scott Pastian said that no one else was involved  and there was no on-going risk to the public from the incident. The firearm believed to be used was located on the property of the reporting party and was seized by detectives.

Michael T. Burnett, 50, is being charged with false reports to law enforcement, a misdemeanor and unlawful discharge of a firearm, also a misdemeanor. Burnett was in stable condition as of Monday afternoon at St. Patrick Hospital.

Missoula Police responded to a call or a reported drive-by shooting in the 1500 block of Cooley Street at about 4 a.m. on Monday, January 6.

Sergeant Scott Pastian said responding officers found a man who had been wounded in the leg.

"Upon arrival, they found an adult male who had a gunshot wound to his knee," Pastian said. "He was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition. We deployed an investigative team, and at this point we're still at the early stage of the investigation as they try to determine exactly what happened. We'll have more as the days go by."