Police probe shooting deaths

The Daily Inter Lake

A 22-year-old Kalispell man died early Thursday morning from what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Officers responded to a home in the 300 block of First Avenue East North about 2:30 a.m. Thursday after receiving reports of an accidental shooting. They found the man's body in the basement.

According to police, the caller said the man was "playing" with a semi-automatic pistol when he shot himself.

A woman outside the home Thursday morning said she was sitting a few feet away from the man when the gun went off.

"He didn't do this on purpose," said the woman, who identified herself as Christy Anderson. "It was a complete accident."

Anderson said the man has just returned from Spokane and was couch-surfing around town. Anderson said they were alone in the home's basement when the man - whom she would identify only as Clint - shot himself while sitting down.

"All I saw was smoke and he just tilted over and started bleeding all over the floor," said Anderson, breaking down. "He turned around, sat down, and it just went off. He was right in the middle of saying 'California' when it happened."

In an unrelated incident, Kalispell police are investigating the death of a Kalispell man whose body was found just after 12:45 p.m. Thursday at the Blue and White Motel in the 600 block of East Idaho Street.

The 54-year-old man also died from what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Police were dispatched to the motel after cleaning staff discovered the body.

Both shootings are still under investigation by the department's Major Case Unit, according to Kalispell police Chief Roger Nasset.