
Shots Fired: Police Investigate Juvenile Gang Activity in Missoula
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On February 4, 2025, at 7:08 PM, the Missoula Police Department reported that they have been investigating recent instances of reported juvenile gang activity in the City of Missoula. According to Police Public Information Officer Whitney Bennett, these incidents have primarily involved juveniles who are suspected of criminal activity and claim a variety of different gang allegiances.
“As part of our investigative efforts, we monitor suspected gang involvement and take strict enforcement efforts on those individuals who commit crimes while part of a criminal street gang,” Bennett said. “Those who commit violent crimes or who possess or use weapons in furtherance of these crimes are a high enforcement priority to the Missoula Police Department.”
On February 2, 2025, at approximately 1:56 AM, Bennett said several 911 callers reported hearing gunshots near Ernest Ave and South Russell Street and 911 callers also reported a suspicious vehicle fleeing the area.
Law Enforcement Quickly Located the Vehicle
“Within minutes, Missoula Police Officers located a vehicle matching the description and with the assistance of the Montana Highway Patrol and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a known risk traffic stop of the vehicle,” Bennett said. “Officers detained the vehicle’s occupants, all juveniles, and determined the vehicle to be stolen. Several of the juveniles present were suspected gang members based on previous information, and several were found to be in possession of gang paraphernalia. A search of the vehicle located a handgun the same caliber of shell casings recovered at the shooting scene.”
Bennett said the investigation confirmed that the shooting was part of an ongoing dispute between rival gang members and that immediately prior to the shooting, some of the juveniles in the stolen car had been displaying gang hand signs.
“One juvenile was arrested for two felonies: Criminal Endangerment for allegedly firing the handgun and Theft for allegedly stealing the vehicle,” Bennett said. “Another juvenile was arrested for Probation Violation. This case has been referred for prosecution and it continues to be actively investigated. Further charges may be referred for prosecution as new information and evidence is discovered through this investigation.”
MPD Says These Types of Incidents are Preventable
While thankfully no one was injured in this very serious incident, the Missoula Police Department asks for the community’s assistance in preventing further incidents of this type.
“In this incident, and in others like it, juveniles often use social media platforms such as Snapchat, Discord, Instagram, and others, to promote or glamorize gang activity and to instigate or continue gang-related disputes,” Bennett said. “Parents and guardians are encouraged to monitor your child’s social media activity for indications of gang involvement such as hand signs, gang graffiti, conspicuous display of specific colored clothing or bandanas, or for posts involving weapons or threats of violence. Anyone seeing posts such as these, please alert the Missoula Police Department.”
READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports
Also in this case, and others like it, Bennett said juveniles have gained access to firearms and use them for criminal purposes.
“These firearms are most commonly taken from a member of their household or stolen from a vehicle,” Bennett said. “Please secure your firearms from unauthorized access and never store a firearm in a parked vehicle.”
MPD Says They Take Gang Activity Very Seriously
The Montana Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act provides additional penalties for any crimes committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, any criminal street gang.
“The Missoula Police Department is committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting all criminal street gang activity,” Bennett said. ‘To prepare ourselves to take this emerging issue, we are hosting a multi-agency training related to gang activity this month and will use that training to promptly respond to gang issues and to coordinate investigations and prosecutions for gang-related crime.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident or other criminal gang activity is encouraged to contact the Missoula Police Department at 406-552-6300 or Crimestoppers at 406-721-4444.
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