Two shot in Bigfork; two sought

Two Lake County men are being sought in connection with the shooting of two young men in a Bigfork bar parking lot early Wednesday morning.

Thane Melton, 19, and Zaniel Dell, 22, both of Bigfork, were shot after midnight outside the Tall Pines Lounge. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, according to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. Melton was shot in the buttocks, and Dell was wounded in the leg.

Witnesses said two men at the bar had gone outside to fight each other and then picked fights with other people. Several people in the parking lot reportedly tried to get the men to leave.

The two men, in their late 20s, reportedly got into a Jeep Cherokee, drove a short distance and then stopped. One of the men reportedly got out and fired more than a half-dozen shots into the crowd, hitting Melton and Dell.

Bigfork Fire and Medical was dispatched, and the men were taken to the hospital.

Witnesses identified the two suspects, who reportedly live in adjacent homes on Montana 35 inside Lake County. Deputies went to their homes, where no one answered the door, though the Jeep was found there.

Later on Wednesday, detectives Brad Parker and Jeanne Landis sought an arrest warrant in the case. Charges are pending and could range from assault with a weapon to attempted homicide.

A description of the suspects has been distributed to local officers, Parker said.