Officers Respond to Active Shooter at Lewis and Clark County Courthouse

On March 14th, at approximately 1:30 PM, officers from the Helena Police Department (HPD) and deputies from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) responded to the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, located at 228 Broadway Avenue, following multiple reports of an active shooter.The Dispatch Center received numerous 911 calls pertaining to this incident. According to a press release, one complainant indicated that an adult female was in possession of a pistol and had made threats to shoot personnel within the courthouse, including a judge. According to the press release, the individual threatened the Courthouse Security Staff while brandishing the firearm. Afterward, the female exited the courthouse and proceeded to walk east along Broadway Avenue. Law enforcement personnel made contact with the individual in the 500 block of Broadway Avenue. She did not comply with the officers and deputies, resulting in the deployment of deadly force. Although medical assistance was rendered at the scene by both the officers and deputies and subsequently by paramedics who arrived shortly thereafter, the female succumbed to her injuries. Given the involvement of both the Helena Police Department and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office in this incident, the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has been tasked with the investigation of the officer-involved shooting. The investigation is currently ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.