State Investigating Weekend Fatal Shooting in Mineral County

Update: 7/23/24 4 pm

Missoula County Sheriff and Coroner, Jeremiah Peterson has identified the man killed during an armed confrontation with officers in Mineral County over the weekend as a 68-year old Missoula man.

The man has been identified as Richard C. Smith of Missoula.

Original story

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - For the second time in just over a year, Mineral County law enforcement officers are having to deal with the aftermath of a violent incident, and an officer-involved shooting.

What started out as a stabbing, turned into a hostage-taking and a fatal confrontation on Sunday.

Now, the Department of Criminal Investigation will be called in to review the details of the case, which is standard procedure when local officers have to discharge their firearms.

Get our free mobile app

Confrontation at a popular camping area

Mineral County Sheriff Ryan Funke says the case began late Sunday morning when dispatchers got a report of a victim who had been stabbed near Fish Creek, which is a popular destination for camping and recreation.

When officers learned the armed suspect had fled into the woods along with a woman who was holding hostage. When they arrived, they set up a perimeter and called for additional help. Missoula County and Flathead County Sheriff's deputies, along with the Flathead SRT team responded. Officers called Two Bear Air for helicopter support.

Shooting followed

Sheriff Funke says as the officers were setting up the perimeter, the suspect came out of the heavily wooded area with the woman carrying a gun. Funke says the man refused to put down the weapon and was shot by officers.

Officers tried to save the man's life, but he died at the scene.

Because of the ongoing investigation, the names of the shooter, the victim, and the officers aren't being released at this time.

Funke gave thanks to the other agencies who came to help with an "evolving, dangerous situation."