One dead in Mineral Co. hostage incident

One person is dead in Mineral County after an officer-involved shooting Sunday with a man who allegedly stabbed and took another person hostage.

According to the Mineral County Sheriff Ryan Funke, two people were in a fight that led to a stabbing and subsequent kidnapping near Fish Creek.

While law enforcement was setting up a scene perimeter, the suspect came out of the heavily wooded area with the hostage and a weapon. The suspect refused to obey law enforcement commands and was shot. Life saving measures were attempted, but the person died at the scene at about 11 a.m.

The state Department of Criminal Investigations, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office detectives and a City of Missoula detective were called to process the scene. The body was transported by a Missoula County Coroner to the Montana State Crime Lab for an autopsy. 

Due to this being an ongoing and active investigation, the names of the officers, victims and the decedent will not be released at this time. 

Funke thanked the agencies and law enforcement partners that assisted Mineral County with the dangerous situation.