Officer Shootings, Murder… A Violent Montana Weekend

State investigators are being called in to put together details of a pursuit in Granite County,  which ended when an officer shot and killed the suspect when he pointed a gun at him at the end of the chase.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation says the confrontation began around 4 pm Sunday afternoon, when the suspect walked into the Sunshine Station in Philipsburg, threatening bar patrons with a gun. DCI says he then left the bar and was located by Granite  County Sheriff's deputies. Following a short pursuit, the suspect was stopped, but then pointed a gun at an officer, who fired the shot that killed the suspect. No officers were hurt.

DCI says the officer, who isn't being identified, is on administrative leave while a report is completed. The suspect's identity isn't being released.

Billings also has an officer-involved shooting

DCI is also handling the report of another fatal shooting in Billings, following the report of a stolen car and a chase.

Billings Police had been called about the theft, possibly involving weapons Friday night. Yellowstone County deputies helped stop the suspect with a spike strip on Blue Creek Road with the driving running away. But one of the two additional people in the car brandished a weapon, with one of the responding officers shooting and killing that suspect.

     The SWAT team responded, and eventually the driver was taken into custody.

Cut Bank Police looking for a killer

Cut Bank Police and DCI were asking for the public's help over the weekend trying to find the man wanted for a murder.

Authorities say they located a body in the apartment belonging to Alfred Joseph Smith on Saturday, obtaining an arrest warrant charging Smith with deliberate homicide. They've been looking for Smith, and another woman, possibly traveling in a purple Hyundai, saying Smith should be considered armed and dangerous.