MISSOULA, Mont. (NMB) – The Montana Department of Justice’s Divsion of Criminal Investigation says the 21-year-old man that died after an altercation with Missoula Police last week likely died by suicide.
The victim, who was initially believed to have been fatally shot by police after he allegedly fired a handgun at the end of a vehicle pursuit, has been identified as Brendon T. Galbreath. The officer is believed to have fired back at the victim, but the victim is believe to have died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound later that night.
The shot fired by the Officer struck the victim’s car and was recovered at the scene.
A press release says the chase ended due to a successful Pursuit Intervention Technique maneuver from police that stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Stephens Avenue and Florence Street.
This is only an initial assessment, and the investigation is ongoing.
