2nd Officer-involved Shooting in Bitterroot

State investigators have another fatal shooting involving a law enforcement officer to investigate, this time from Ravalli County Sheriff.

There have been few details released on the shooting, which happened at a home outside Stevensville yesterday morning. But we do know the deputy discharged his gun during a confrontation at a house just outside the city.

Now, following usual procedures, the Division of Criminal Investigation will be handling the follow-up on the case.

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What happened during the shooting near Stevensville

Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton has said the shooting happened when the deputy was responding to a "call for service" at a man's home just north of Stevensville. But the department didn't release any specific details are to what led to the shooting.

The officer wasn't hurt.

State will handle the investigation

Holton has requested DCI do an independent investigation into the shooting, which he notes is "common practice" to have an outside agency gather the facts. That gives the investigation some "transparency" and keeps anyone from suggesting there's a conflict of interest.

Holton notes that information from the state will then be turned over to Ravalli County Attorney Bill Fulbright's office, which would then handle a Coroner's Inquest. That's where a District Court Judge will hear the evidence from law enforcement, and representation from the victim, and then render a decision as to whether the use of force was "justified."

Second officer-involved shooting in the Bitterroot this year

The Bitterroot hadn't seen many shootings involving law enforcement in recent years. But the Stevensville case is the second in 2024.

In April, a Hamilton Police Officer shot and killed a knife-wielding robber during a holdup attempt at a convenience store on the north side of town. A Ravalli County jury decided that the shooting was "justified" after a hearing in September.