C. Falls man shot

The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell police arrested a man Monday evening for allegedly shooting an acquaintance in the back while he sat in his van.

Kenneth Kraus, 39, faces a potential charge of attempted deliberate homicide, said Kalispell police detective Lt. Jim Brenden.

He is accused of shooting a 45-year-old Columbia Falls man who was parked in a van outside Kraus' house, 242 10th Ave. W., early Monday morning. The name of the victim has not been released.

With a warrant, police searched Kraus' home, finding enough evidence to arrest him late in the day, Brenden said. Brenden declined to elaborate on the evidence, including whether a weapon was seized. Kraus was being held at the police station for questioning and was arrested there.

Brenden said the victim was in stable condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Kraus, a construction worker, and his wife were at the Finish Line tavern on Sunday with the victim and another woman - watching the Super Bowl and staying for a music jam session later.

Brenden said the two men argued vehemently, partly about the Super Bowl and apparently partly about other topics after the game.

Kraus was a fan of the Chicago Bears. Information was not available on the victim's team allegiance.

The shooting occurred after the victim drove Kraus' wife home. She was not apparently a reason for the shooting, Brenden said.

A 911 call reporting the shooting came in to the Flathead County sheriff's dispatch at 2:22 a.m.

As officers interviewed witnesses at the bar and canvassed the neighborhood Monday, they had found no witnesses to a disturbance at the house.

But some neighborhood residents, Brenden said, "believe they heard a noise that would be consistent with a shot." Their recollections of the time, he said, were consistent with the 2:22 a.m. call for help.

Police Chief Roger Nasset said the victim received a gunshot wound to the back as he was sitting in his vehicle while it was stopped outside the suspect's home. The victim then drove himself to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

The Kalispell Police Department SWAT team, with help from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office SWAT team, went to the house.

When they were in position, Kalispell police negotiators talked with the suspect until he voluntarily surrendered for questioning at 5:35 a.m.

Brenden said police searched the vehicle and have impounded it.

Kalispell police detectives continue canvassing the neighborhood for anyone who may have heard or seen anything related to the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kalispell police at 758-7780.

Reporter Nancy Kimball may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com