EBS STAFF
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Bozeman Police officers were involved in a three-hour standoff in the parking lot of a Bozeman shopping center, ultimately resulting in the death of a female perpetrator who had been making threats and refused to surrender her handgun.
The deceased female was identified as 29-year-old female Rick Alastor Newman of Bozeman, according to a press release from Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office on Friday afternoon.
“First, our most heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and all who are impacted by this loss,” Bozeman Police Chief Jim Veltkamp stated in an Oct. 17 press release from the City of Bozeman. “Events like these affect our entire community. We are committed to a thorough investigation of this incident and appreciate everyone’s patience as we learn more.”
On Wednesday around 8 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a female—Newman—who had threatened a family member with a handgun at a residence in Bozeman. By the time police arrived, Newman had left with the firearm, “making further threats to harm others and herself,” according to the release.
“They also learned that the female had made suicidal threats and specific threats about killing specific people, a fact that also increased officers’ concerns,” Veltkamp added in a press conference Friday morning, Oct. 18. The 13-minute conference was recorded and can be viewed online.
Officers searched the surrounding area, and after two hours, located Newman in the shopping complex at the northeast corner of West Oak Street and North 19th Avenue. She was still in possession of a visible handgun.
“Officers contacted the female and communicated with her for nearly three hours, working to de-escalate the situation and seek a peaceful outcome,” the release stated. In the press conference, Veltkamp added that these officers were trained crisis negotiators, officers attached to the department’s special response team.
“At about 1:45 a.m., the female set the gun down and indicated she was giving up, but then grabbed the handgun again,” the release stated. “Officers responded to the threat and fired several rounds, with the female succumbing to her injuries.”
Responding officers were not injured, and per department policy, involved officers have been placed on administrative leave. Following BPD protocol, the department requested an independent investigation from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation “to ensure transparency and impartiality.”
