Suspect is charged in shooting

The Daily Inter Lake

Albert F. Costa, 32, was charged Friday with attempted deliberate homicide. Bond is set at $200,000.

According to court documents, Detective Paul Lebert of the Flathead County Sheriff's Office found that:

On Tuesday at about 2:15 a.m., a man was reportedly parked at the Meadow Manor Trailer Court. Two men, including Costa, were outside a mobile home. One saw the alleged victim and started walking towards him. The driver began to leave the area, when he heard four rounds fired at his car. His driver's side window exploded and two rounds were later retrieved from the car. Shell casings belonging to a .380-caliber gun were also found later at the scene.

Costa admitted that he owns a .380-caliber weapon and that he had fired the gun at the driver. He said an acquaintance of his was being threatened and Costa believed the driver was there to hurt them.

According to paperwork filed by Deputy County Attorney Dan Guzynski, "It appears there was a dispute concerning payment of drugs at this residence and that [Costa] had been called out to the residence prior to [the victim's] arrival for protection.

If convicted, Costa faces up to 100 years in prison.

Justice of the Peace Dale Trigg set bond at $200,000 for Costa. He assigned public defender Ed Falla to represent Costa and scheduled an arraignment for March 24 in District Court.

Detective Commander Bruce Parish said deputies Geno Cook, Jordan White, Brad Stahlberg and Russ Papke did an excellent job securing the scene and Lebert's detective work led quickly to the arrest.

"Everybody did a hell of a job," Parish said.

Costa is reportedly wanted in California on a charge of assault with a weapon. The state will not extradite Costa from Montana, though.