Police Arrest Man After a Knife Chase in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 29, 2026, at approximately 10:12 a.m., a Missoula Police Department officer was dispatched to the Magic Diamond Casino on W. Broadway Street for a report of an assault with a weapon. The reporting party, John Doe, told dispatch that a male he knew as Demon tried to stab him with a knife in the parking lot of the casino. Demon was later identified as 41-year-old Terrence Keplin. 

The officer arrived on the scene and made contact with Doe, who reported that he had been traveling on foot when he noticed Keplin walking north on Burton Street. Keplin approached Doe and stated that Doe’s sister owed him money. Keplin then took a knife out of his waistband, started waving it at Doe, and demanded that Doe give him all of his stuff, or he was going to kill him. Doe described the knife as being a button-release switchblade with a black handle and a blade approximately six inches long. 

When he saw Keplin had a knife, Doe started “booking it” towards the casino. Keplin started following Doe down the sidewalk and then into the casino. Once inside the casino, Keplin continued to follow Doe until an employee intervened by physically stepping in between them. Keplin then left the casino. 

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The officer spoke with an employee of the casino who had access to the business’s surveillance video. The officer reviewed parts of the video and observed Doe being followed into the casino by Keplin. After Keplin exited the casino, a male approached him. It appeared that Keplin handed something to the male, which the male then placed in his own pocket. 

Another officer observed Keplin running very fast from the direction of the casino. The officer briefly lost sight of Keplin until he turned onto Bruton Street and looked into the yard of an apartment complex, where he observed the male with no shirt on, crouched in the yard, looking directly at him. The male was then taken into custody and was identified as Keplin. It was also learned that his street moniker is “demon,” the same name initially provided to dispatch. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

The knife that Doe said was used during the incident was not recovered on Keplin’s person or in the area around the casino. Keplin was later transported to the Missoula County Detention Center, where he was remanded into their custody. Keplin is currently being charged with felony assault with a weapon, felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and obstructing a peace officer. His bond was set at $50,000. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.