A man has died in an officer-involved shooting in Ravalli County

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office reports that a man was killed in a fatal officer-involved shooting Wednesday morning north of Stevensville.

The deputy involved in the incident was not injured.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating this case with the Missoula County Coroner’s Office.

Full disclosure: Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton said a Ravalli County sheriff’s deputy was involved in a fatal shooting yesterday morning (11/20/20) north of Stevensville. The deputy was not injured, but an adult male was pronounced dead at the scene. Sheriff Holton said the shooting occurred during an emergency call to the man’s residence.

At the request of the RCSO, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations is investigating this case in conjunction with the Missoula County Coroner’s Office. Sheriff Holton said once completed, the case will be turned over to the Ravalli County Prosecutor’s Office so a coroner’s inquest can be conducted. The deputy is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such circumstances. Sheriff Holton said it is common practice to ask outside agencies to investigate matters such as officer-involved shootings to ensure transparency and avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.

Sheriff Holton said he is grateful that the sheriff’s deputy was not injured and the Sheriff’s Office is praying with the sheriff’s deputy and the family of the deceased at this time.

Sheriff Holton added that since the case is currently pending in the Criminal Investigations Division, any requests for information should be directed to that agency.