(UPDATE) A 29-year-old man from Box Elder was fatally shot by two police officers in Billings on Monday after he reportedly pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the officers.
The officers were investigating a call for "suspicious activity" in an apartment complex parking lot near the 2200 block of Avenue C.
Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said at a news conference on Tuesday that two cars with three suspects were parked at odd angles in the parking lot when a neighbor called in the activity around at 10:20 p.m. on Monday.
Officers tried to detain the 29-year-old man for questioning and he refused to comply. Officers deployed a Taser with no effect, the altercation turned physical, and officers wrestled him to the ground.
St. John said officers saw the man pull out a semi-automatic black handgun and pointed it at the four officers who arrived on scene.
Two officers, Ryland Nelson and Justin Bickford, fired several shots at the man. It's not clear yet how many shots they fired or how many hit the man. He was taken to a Billings hospital and later died from his gunshot wounds.
The two other suspects were interviewed at the scene and released that night, St. John said.
The name of the man who died has not yet been released by the county coroner, pending notification of the man's family.
St. John said the incident is still being investigated.
(1st REPORT) A 29-year-old man died after being shot by police officers in Billings on Monday after getting into a fight with officers.
According to Lt. Brandon Wooley, the officers responded to the 2200 block of Avenue C at around 10:20 p.m. on a report of suspicious activity.
When the officers arrived, they contacted three suspects.
While detaining a 29-year-old man from Box Elder, he began to fight officers.
Two officers fired their weapons and the man was taken to a hospital by ambulance for gunshot wounds where he died.
The man's name has not yet been released, nor have the names of the officers.
No other injuries were reported.
The department is planning a press conference with Chief Rich St. John later Tuesday to release more information.
