Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

$1M bail set in shooting deaths of brothers in Three Forks

in Regional
Ex-Montana police chief pleads guilty to child porn charge
EBS Staffby EBS Staff
January 20, 2022

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOZEMAN­­ – Bail was set at $1 million Tuesday for a Three Forks man charged with killing two brothers during a weekend fight.

Zachary Eugene Norman, 24, made an initial appearance in Gallatin County Justice Court on two counts of deliberate homicide for the shootings early Saturday that killed Chase Estabrook, 32, of Butte and Brendan Estabrook, 31, of Three Forks.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad
ADVERTISEMENT

He did not enter a plea.

His public defenders cited Norman’s lifelong ties to Gallatin County, his completion of a hunter’s safety course and other firearms training and his lack of criminal record in asking Justice of the Peace Bryan Adams to set bail at $10,000, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.

Adams followed the prosecutors’ bail recommendation.

Witnesses told investigators that Norman was among a group of people who left a bar in Three Forks when it closed at 2 a.m. Saturday and went to someone’s house.

The bartender reported he arrived at the residence at about 3 a.m. and heard Norman arguing with the Estabrook brothers. The physical and verbal altercation spilled out into the driveway and the bartender said he believed the fight was over when he saw Norman walking away, followed by the brothers.

The bartender then heard a “commotion” and saw the three men fighting near an intersection. He then heard five or six gunshots and a brief pause, followed by a few more gunshots, court records said.

A search at Norman’s residence, where he lives with his father, turned up a Glock handgun in a plastic holster behind the water heater in a closet in his father’s bedroom, court records said.

Norman provided inconsistent statements to officers, initially saying he did not remember anything after leaving a strip club late on Friday night until officers arrived at his house early Saturday. He said he did not know where his handgun was.

ADVERTISEMENT

Later, he acknowledged carrying his handgun in the bars that night and that he had been in a garage at the residence near where the shooting occurred, investigators said.

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Jul 9
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 9
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Event Series

Community Yoga

Jul 9
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Post 99 Honey sales

Jul 9
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Pickup Ultimate Frisbee

Jul 10
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Legendary: UM Video Game Team Scores National Championship
Regional

Legendary: UM Video Game Team Scores National Championship

July 8, 2025
Montana, Forest Service, sign forest management agreement
Regional

Montana, Forest Service, sign forest management agreement

July 8, 2025
Bozeman Public Library to host live bluegrass July 13
Regional

Bozeman Public Library to host live bluegrass July 13

July 7, 2025
Montana State musicians in STEM release jazz album 
Regional

Montana State musicians in STEM release jazz album 

July 7, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube