BILLINGS, Mont. (NMB) – Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said at a press conference on Tuesday that 13 officers were involved in Monday night’s incident in which a 19-year-old Billings man was shot dead by police after firing a weapon at them.
The officer that was shot was grazed in the shoulder and has been treated and released.
The man shot by officers has not been identified, but St. John said he had a criminal record and had been accused of violating parole.
The incident occurred at 11:01 PM at the 1900 block of Burnstead Drive. Police say the incident began as a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle, and the vehicle fled. Once the vehicle was located, the suspect fired a firearm at officers through the windshield after refusing to comply with commands.
Officers ended up returning fire and the suspect was pronounced deceased on scene.
St. John says they are thankful that the officer that was wounded did not suffer serious injuries.
The incident remains under investigation, and all 13 officers involved are now on paid leave.
This is the second fatal shooting of a suspect by a Billings officer in the span of just over a week. A May 23rd shooting remains under investigation, and six officers remain on leave for their involvement in that incident.
