Armed standoff in Glacier Park ends peacefully

An armed standoff ended peacefully late Saturday night after a 28-year-old Helena man allegedly fired a gun at Glacier National Park’s popular Sprague Creek Campground.

Park spokeswoman Margie Steigerwald said no injuries resulted from the incident, but the man was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation. Rangers are still determining whether to file charges after he allegedly fired a revolver from inside his tent, she said.

While firearms are permitted in national parks, discharging them is a misdemeanor under federal law.

Steigerwald said eight park rangers responded to a report of a single gunshot at about 9:30 p.m. and immediately evacuated the 22-site campground along Lake McDonald.

“By this time the shooter had already gotten out of the tent and moved down to the lakeshore with the gun,” Steigerwald said. “The girlfriend reported him as being distraught and having emotional issues.”

Park rangers surrounded the man, who surrendered after a negotiation that lasted about 30 to 40 minutes. He was handcuffed but not arrested, Steigerwald said.

The incident wrapped up around midnight, and the man was transported to the hospital after he reportedly made possible references to suicide, according to Steigerwald.

The park has not released the man’s name and is still investigating the incident, with possible charges pending.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.