MISSOULA — Brandon Wakefield, accused of fatally shooting a man near a Missoula gas station last week, pleaded not guilty to a charge of deliberate homicide on Tuesday.
Wakefield is accused of shooting Joshua Wykle on March 4 during an attempted fugitive recovery operation.
Watch the video here:
Court documents state Wakefield was one of four fugitive recovery agents who attempted to take Wykle, an alleged fugitive, into custody.
Wykle was trying to drive away from the scene when he was surrounded by the men, according to court documents.
Wakefield's temporary license to be a bail bondsman has been revoked by the state. His bail was set at $200,000, and his next court date is scheduled for late April.
Court documents obtained by MTN News provide details about the deadly shooting.
The Missoula Police Department (MPD) was called to the Town Pump on Reserve Street after receiving reports of shots being fired.
At the scene, four armed men were wearing tactical gear. Three were standing while the fourth was performing CPR on the shooting victim, identified by court documents as Joshua Wykle.
According to an affidavit filed by Missoula Deputy County Attorney Brittany Williams, an MPD Lieutenant determined that they were bail bondsmen who had traveled to Missoula from Billings to apprehend Wykle, an alleged fugitive also from Billings.
MPD Officer Hansen identified the man performing CPR as the shooter, Brandon Wakefield. It was noted by police that Wakefield had a patch on his tactical vest stating, “Fugitive Recovery Agent".
Documents state, according to video from a nearby casino, Wykle was in gray sweats and a black hooded jacket. He was walking across the parking lot of the Town Pump to get into a white Saturn.
Approximately 10 seconds after the Saturn turns on, the video shows a Honda Pilot pulling behind the Saturn, partially blocking it into the parking spot.
Two men exit the the passenger doors of the Honda. The male who got out of the front passenger door was later identified as Austin Mistretta.
Documents report Mistretta approached the front of the Saturn and pointed his rifle at the vehicle.
The video shows another man in tactical gear exit the Honda and approach the driver's side of the Saturn and pointing his firearm at Wykle in the driver's seat.
The Saturn begins to reverse as one agent walks directly behind it and braces himself against the car.
As the vehicle continues to reverse, the agent gets out of the way as Wakefield fires downward into the car at Wykle's center.
Court documents detail that Wakefield had fired twice while standing next to the vehicle.
Documents note Wakefield was in a shooting stance and then blocked from view of the camera by the moving Saturn.
Mistretta appears on the video to walk over to the Honda as Wakefield begins performing CPR on Wykle.
Both Wakefield and Mistretta were directly filed to district court, meaning a jail-based arraignment did not take place.
Wakefield remains in custody at the Missoula County Detention Center on charges of deliberate homicide and assault with a weapon. His bail is set at $1,000,000.
Meanwhile, Mistretta bonded out of jail. He has been charged with attempted assault with a weapon.
His hearing is scheduled for March 16.
