23 May, 2017
Broadwater County sheriff's deputy Mason Moore was shot and killed Tuesday morning near Three Forks.
He came from a small town in SC but made his mark in Big Sky Country.
Moore was a husband and a father of three children. He was a 3 year veteran of the sheriff's office.
Gallatin County Sheriff's Office say the highway is expected to be closed all morning.
He had also worked for the University of South Carolina Police Department and was a former Lexington County Sheriff's Department. "I thank all of the law enforcement agencies involved for their efforts today, and I ask all Montanans to reach out to the law enforcement officers in their community, thank them for the work they do, and thank them for the sacrifices they make". He is being held on a felony deliberate homicide charge in the Missoula County jail.
Once the tires deflated in the fleeing vehicle, one of the suspects started firing a rifle from the rear of the Suburban at the pursuing patrol cars.
The suspect vehicle was spotted near Anaconda.
Moore died less than two miles away from where a state Highway Patrol trooper was shot and killed in 2010.
Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester says the suspects fired shots at officers who pursued the vehicle across parts of five counties.
Lester said the investigation of the slaying and chase is being conducted by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the Missoula County Sheriff's Office.
Officers from numerous agencies joined a procession at mid-day Tuesday to transfer Moore's body from Three Forks to Billings for an autopsy.
The passenger in the SUV, identified as 39-year-old Marshall Barrus, got out and began shooting at officers and was shot by officers before being taken to a hospital. His condition has not been released but Missoula County officials said he is in custody.
The U.S. marked Peace Officers Memorial Day on Monday. The driver of the SUV has been arrested and a passenger was shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital. Officers deployed spike strips in Powell County, but the driver was able to continue west on Interstate 90 before stopping about 35 miles east of Missoula.
Missoula County authorities report the passenger exited the vehicle and began shooting at multiple officers, according to KPAX.
Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin says a Broadwater County sheriff's deputy was killed near Three Forks. He is believed to be the shooter's father.