Man suspected of shooting at driver near Seeley Lake was found dead

POTOMAC, Mont. — A man suspected of shooting at another driver near Seeley Lake is dead tonight.

The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office said officers stopped the suspected shooter on Highway 200 near mile marker 20 following a report of shots fired near Seeley Lake. The man failed to comply with police commands before officers heard a gunshot from the suspect’s vehicle.

Officers gave additional commands after the shooting before approaching a dark blue Toyota pickup and finding the man unresponsive. Life-saving efforts failed.

The incident began after 3 p.m. when a Missoula County sheriff’s officer received a report of a vehicle passing another vehicle on a southbound double yellow line section of Highway 83. According to the report, a male driver shot out his window after illegally passing another vehicle near Seeley Lake.

Officers found the man’s blue Toyota on Highway 83 and continued to follow it as the man drove west on Highway 200 before officers stopped him.

The Montana Department of Corrections Criminal Investigation Division will investigate the incident.

Complete dismissal from the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office:

At approximately 3:07 p.m., it was reported that a male driver traveling south on Highway 83 near Seeley Lake passed another driver in an area with double yellow lines and then heard shots fired from the driver’s side window had fired.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officers located the vehicle, a dark blue Toyota pickup, traveling south on Highway 83. Officers continued to pursue the vehicle from the intersection of Highway 83 and Highway 200 while the male driver traveled west on Highway 200. The male driver was stopped near mile marker 20 on Highway 200. For the safety of first responders and the public, traffic was delayed on Highway 200.

Police ordered the male suspect to exit the vehicle. The male suspect did not comply with law enforcement orders. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was mobilized around 3:34 p.m.

A shot was heard from the suspect vehicle. The suspect was also given the order to get out of the vehicle. The suspect didn’t answer.

As police approached the suspect’s vehicle, security measures were taken. The male suspect did not respond. The police carried out life-saving measures. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will serve as the coroner for the incident.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and is being conducted by the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).