Man who was shot was choking girlfriend

MISSOULA (AP) — Missoula County officials have identified a police officer and the man he shot early Wednesday after a pursuit that began with a domestic disturbance report.

Sheriff’s Det. Scott Newell on Friday said Missoula officer Paul Kelly shot Kaileb Cole Williams in the head early Wednesday as Williams, 20, was strangling his girlfriend in a car

“She thought he was going to kill her,” Newell said. “She felt the police saved her life.”

Williams’ mother called 911 shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday to report her son had assaulted her and had driven off in her car.

The mother said Williams’ girlfriend asked her to come pick her up, but the girlfriend got into the car without overnight bags. Williams’ mother said she went inside to get some of her belongings and her son punched her in the face and then drove away in the car with his girlfriend inside, county officials said.

Williams was intoxicated and had been using spice, or synthetic marijuana, for a few days, Newell said.

Williams led police on a chase through town that ended when the car broke down on an off ramp, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Paige Pavalone.

Officers approached the car and the suspect told them to back away, Newell said.

The girlfriend was yelling for help and officers were unable to break the car windows. Kelly fired one shot through the driver’s side window, hitting Williams in the head.

The girlfriend told officers that before the car came to a stop Williams had told her he wanted to drive into oncoming traffic and kill them both, Newell said.

Williams was on probation for a previous conviction of criminal possession of dangerous drugs at the time of his death.

Kelly was placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is under investigation.