(UPDATE, 4:23 p.m.) Lt. Matt Fleming of the GFPD said that officers were notified at about 1:50 p.m. about the reported disturbance near the Phoenix Apartments.
He said, “The initial information indicated that there was a large group of citizens fighting in this location. There was an initial report of somebody being injured with a knife, and a quick follow up report of somebody being injured with a firearm as well.”
Video from the scene:
Fleming noted, “All of these individuals are known to each other, which significantly diminishes the general public risk. But we are still trying to locate two more people.”
Authorities have not released the names of any of the suspects, persons of interest, or victims.
The GFPD says that they have taken the "primary persons of interest" into custody.
There were more witnesses present that officers are still working to identify.
Patrol officers and detectives will be processing the crime scene for "quite a while" into the evening.
We will update you as we get more information.
(UPDATE, 2:30 p.m.) The Great Falls Police Department says there is a large police presence near 10th Avenue South and 18th Street South as officers are investigating what is says is a "juvenile disturbance."
The agency said that two people have been taken to a hospital for a possible gunshot wound and a possible stab wound.
Several "persons of interest" have been taken into custody and officers are continuing to search the area for others who may be involved.
The following schools implemented shelter-in-place procedures as a precaution: Longfellow Elementary School, Lewis & Clark Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, East Middle School, Great Falls High School, Paris Gibson Education Center, and Montana School for the Deaf & Blind.
At 2:45 p.m., GFPS said the affected schools have transitioned to "release with care" procedures: "Parents, please plan on picking your students up from their elementary school, buses are running as normal, but may be late."
We will update you as we get more information.
(1st REPORT, 2:09 p.m.) East Middle School implemented "shelter in place" procedures on Monday, November 3, 2025.
A text message from Great Falls Public Schools just after 2 p.m. said it is due to "law enforcement activity in the area."
At this point, there is no word on the nature on the nature of the activity.
East Middle School is at 4040 Central Avenue.
We have also received reports that several other schools on the east side of Great Falls have implemented shelter in place procedures.
"Shelter in place" is defined by GFPS as a safety precaution for an external threat that is not an immediate or internal threat.
There are no indications that any students are in danger.
We will update you if we get more information.
GFPS safety procedures:
- Evacuation: Defined as an internal emergency that requires students and staff to leave the building for their safety. Parents should follow emergency notifications.
- Lockdown: Defined as an internal and/or immediate threat. All staff and students are locked in rooms. No one IN or OUT!
- Shelter In Place: Defined as a safety precaution for an external threat that is not an immediate or internal threat.
- Class Hold: Defined as a safety precaution implemented during an incident where students need to be kept in the classroom.
- Release with Care: Defined as a possible threat in the schools’ neighborhoods during arrival and release time.
During "release with care, the building administrator may ask staff to escort students to/from buses or waiting cars; staff may also be asked to accompany students home."
Click here to visit the Safety page on the GFPS website for more information.
