Missoula, MT — The Missoula Police Department (MPD) is actively investigating recent incidents involving suspected juvenile gang activity, after a shooting incident in the early hours of February 2nd raised serious concerns.
The MPD reports that multiple 911 calls came in that morning, with callers reporting hearing gunshots near Ernest Avenue and South Russell Street. Other callers described a suspicious vehicle leaving the area shortly after the shots were fired. Officers soon located a vehicle matching the description provided by witnesses. With assistance from the Montana Highway Patrol and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, a “known risk traffic stop” was conducted on the vehicle.
Upon detaining the occupants of the vehicle, officers discovered that it had been stolen. Several of the juveniles in the car were suspected of being involved in gang activity, based on prior intelligence. During the stop, police found gang paraphernalia and a handgun inside the vehicle, as well as shell casings matching those recovered from the shooting scene.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was tied to an ongoing dispute between rival gangs. Prior to the incident, some of the juveniles in the stolen vehicle had been seen displaying gang hand-signs. One juvenile was arrested for two felony charges: Criminal Endangerment for allegedly firing the handgun, and Theft for allegedly stealing the vehicle. Another juvenile was arrested for a Probation Violation.
The MPD emphasized that the investigation remains active, and additional charges may be brought forward as new evidence emerges. Fortunately, no one was injured in the shooting, but law enforcement has expressed concern over the growing gang-related activity involving young people in the community.
The MPD is urging the public to assist in preventing further incidents of this nature. In particular, parents and guardians are being encouraged to monitor their children’s social media activity for signs of gang involvement, such as hand-signs, gang-related graffiti, or posts displaying weapons or threats of violence. Social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord have been identified as popular spaces where juveniles often glamorize gang activity and escalate conflicts.
The department also highlighted the troubling trend of juveniles gaining access to firearms, often stolen from vehicles or taken from family members’ homes. As a preventive measure, the MPD is urging firearm owners to secure their weapons to prevent unauthorized access.
Under the Montana Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, crimes committed in connection with a criminal street gang can result in additional penalties. The MPD has committed to a comprehensive response to combat gang activity, including hosting a multi-agency training session later this month to address the issue.
In closing, the Missoula Police Department has made it clear that individuals involved in violent crimes or possessing firearms in connection with such offenses will be a high priority for enforcement. The department has asked anyone with information regarding this incident or other gang-related activity to come forward by contacting the MPD at 406-552-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 406-721-4444.
