UPDATE 4pm Wednesday
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) – A Montana man connected to a casino shooting that left three people dead had a long criminal history and was being sought by police prior to the attack. Documents revealed Wednesday say the 41-year-old had convictions for assaulting a police officer, robbery and other crimes and was wanted on assault allegations. Authorities shot and killed him close to the casino where another person was wounded early Tuesday in the city of Great Falls. The Great Falls Tribune reported that a woman accused of harboring the suspect and who was with him just before the shooting is facing charges.
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) – Montana officials have identified the man who was fatally shot by authorities during their search for the shooter in a triple killing. Petroleum County Coroner R.J. Brown said in a statement Wednesday that Ricky Lee Gardipee was shot by deputy U.S. marshals early Tuesday in the city of Great Falls, where the casino shooting happened. Gardipee was 41 and was killed about a mile from the Emerald City Casino where three people were fatally shot and a fourth was injured. The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims killed as 53-year-old Cheryl Ann Larsen, 60-year-old Wendy Joanne Carlson and 61-year-old Steve Mitchell Hale.
