BOZEMAN  – On Oct. 16, at approximately 8 p.m., Bozeman Police Officers responded to a call regarding a female who had threatened a family member with a handgun at a residence in Bozeman. Upon arriving, they learned the individual had left the residence with the handgun, making further threats to harm others and herself. Officers began a thorough search of the surrounding area out of concern for the safety of all involved.

After two hours of searching, they located the female in the parking lot of the shopping complex located on the northeast corner of West Oak Street and North 19th Avenue, still in possession of a visible handgun.

Officers contacted the female and communicated with her for nearly three hours, working to de-escalate the situation and seek a peaceful outcome. At about 1:45 a.m., the female set the gun down and indicated she was giving up, but then grabbed the handgun again. Officers responded to the threat and fired several rounds, with the female succumbing to her injuries.

There were no injuries to the responding officers. Per department policy, the involved officers have been placed on administrative leave. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation has also been requested per department protocol and is conducting an independent investigation to ensure transparency and impartiality.

“First, our most heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and all who are impacted by this loss,” Chief Jim Veltkamp stated. “Events like these affect our entire community. We are committed to a thorough investigation of this incident and appreciate everyone’s patience as we learn more.”

A press conference will be held tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at the Bozeman Public Safety Center’s Community Room. The conference will also be livestreamed on the Bozeman Police Department Facebook page and uploaded to YouTube for later viewing.