Suspect Shot by Law Enforcement Near Missoula Airport Identified

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the suspect involved in an officer-involved shooting that occurred near the Smokejumper Center in the 5700 block of West Broadway as 34-year-old Vance Ledeau.

Missoula Police Department spokesperson Lydia Arnold provided limited details of the incident that day. One suspect was deceased and at the time there was no threat to the public after an officer-involved shooting that occurred on (Saturday) August 27. The Missoula Police Department responded to several robbery calls in the city limits. The robbery suspect was located by a Missoula County Sheriff's Office deputy just after 11:30 a.m. on August 27 in the 5700 block of Highway 10 West.

Arnold said multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the incident and the ongoing investigation.

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Arnold said the Missoula Police Department, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service law enforcement, Missoula Airport police, Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montana Highway Patrol were all involved and responded to assist due to the threat to public safety.

Whenever an officer-involved shooting occurs, the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations takes over the investigation.

The incident was then turned over to the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. The Missoula Police Department and all of the agencies involved have fully cooperated with the Division of Criminal Investigation.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell released the identity of the shooting victim on Tuesday afternoon.