Car Shot Up on Road to Saint Marie

A vehicle was riddled with bullet holes during the night of Jan. 5 or morning of Jan. 6, while it sat parked on the side of Highway 24 heading north towards Saint Marie about a half mile past mile marker 4, according to Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer.

The owner of the vehicle was traveling along the highway when his tire went flat the evening of Jan. 5. After determining he would not be able to fix the vehicle he made his way home and upon returning the next morning found the car full of bullet holes and with the windows shot out.

According to Boyer, the vehicle contained 26 bullet holes in total and all of the side windows had been shattered. Seven .22 caliber casings were found on the road and the perpetrators were still unknown at press time.

It is also unclear how much in monetary damages were done to the vehicle. In Montana, vandalism exceeding $1,500 in damages could be charged as felony Criminal Mischief under the Montana Code Annotated 45-6-101, and any involved could face up to 10 years in prison.

Sheriff Boyer highlighted a second incident near Saint Marie where around 3 p.m. Sunday a 911 call reported up to 22 blasts of gunfire coming from near Highway 24. After patrolling the area no sign of the shooter or any vandalism was apparent. Boyer said it is unclear if the two incidents were related to each other at this time.

The Sheriff's Office is looking for any information about the incidents and urges anyone with information to call the office at 228-4333 ext. 2.