BUTTE – Butte police officers shot a man who they said pointed a rifle at them early Monday morning.
The man, who reportedly had taken prescription medication in an apparent suicide attempt, was being treated at a Butte hospital.
According to a news release, at 3:24 a.m. police responded to a residence on Maryland Avenue for a report of an apparent suicide attempt.
Officers attempted to speak to the man as emergency medical crews were staged nearby.
After several minutes of knocking on the door, the officers saw the man inside with a rifle. The man then exited the door of the residence with the rifle.
Officers reportedly retreated from a porch area and began giving the man verbal commands to drop the weapon.
The man allegedly swung the rifle toward the officers and both officers fired multiple rounds from their handguns at the man, who was struck in the right forearm with one round.
The scene was secured and the man was transported to St. James Healthcare.
The 38-year-old man was being treated at a hospital and surgery may be needed. The injury does not appear to be life-threatening. No officers were injured during the incident.
According to Sheriff Ed Lester, the man’s weapon was a .22-caliber rifle, which was recovered at the scene.
Agents from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation were on the scene and will conduct the investigation into the incident.
