Sergeant Travis Welsh of the Missoula Police Department provided new details about the incident that triggered a lockdown and heavy police presence on Wednesday.
Sgt Welsh said in a news release that at 9:45 a.m., a Missoula police officer was driving north on the 400 block of Woody Street when he reported that a rear window of his patrol car had been shot out.
Other officers nearby came to the area to assist the officer.
A perimeter was made around the government buildings and were immediately locked down.
According to Sgt Welsh, the lockdown is still in place as the investigation continues.
There have not been any reported injuries. We will update you as we get more information.
(UPDATE, 12:07 pm) Several areas of downtown Missoula are still under lockdown and Broadway Street in front of the Missoula County Courthouse has been shut down after shots were fired at a police car Wednesday morning.
The Missoula Police Department has blocked a portion of downtown Missoula near the police department and the Mountain Line transfer station. The public cannot enter City Hall and the Missoula County Courthouse and people are asked to avoid the areas of Ryman and Pine, Ryman and Broadway, and Woody and Broadway. Anyone in the downtown area is asked to shelter in place and lock all doors.
Missoula County departments will not be able to provide public services at this time.
Hellgate High School and Lowell Elementary School are on a perimeter lock-in as a precaution. There is no immediate threat to the buildings, however, students cannot be released for lunch.
MCPS spokesperson Hatton Littman says students and staff are not allowed in or out of the buildings.
At this time, no injuries have been reported and no suspect details have been released.
(1st REPORT, 10:48 am) Missoula County posted the following message onTwitter: "All downtown Missoula County offices are currently on lockdown due to an incident near City Hall. The public is not able to access these facilities until further notice. Please avoid the area."
People are asked to avoid the area around Pine Street and Ryman Street and Pine Street and Woody Street.
University of Montana police sent out the following alert: "Missoula Police have blocked a portion of downtown Missoula near the police department and the Mountain Line transfer station after shots were fired at a police car being driven by an officer. No injuries reported. As a result, city buses are being rerouted, streets surrounding the Missoula County Courthouse and police station (Spruce, Pine, Ryman, Woody, etc.) in a five-block radius are closed."
We will update you as we get more information.
