Second suspect sought in drive-by shooting

Law enforcement officials in Northwest Montana have issued a warrant for the arrest of a second man accused of being involved in a suspected drive-by shooting Monday in Kalispell.

According to court documents filed late Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Joseph Trapper Bukowski, 19, was charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon and three felony counts of criminal endangerment. Bukowski is facing a maximum term of 20 years each on the assault with weapon charges and 10 years each on the criminal endangerment charges. Bukowski’s bail was set at $250,000.

The other man suspected of being involved in the shooting, Columbia Falls resident Ansen Walter Ingraham, 18, was arrested Monday in connection with the crime. He was charged with two counts of felony assault with a weapon, and three counts of felony criminal endangerment. He is being held at the Flathead County Detention Center with bond set at $200,000.

According to an affidavit filed in court Thursday, Kalispell Police received a report of “shots fired” at 12:08 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, near Seventh Avenue West in Kalispell. It was later reported that two other residences on Sunnyside Drive and Ashley Creek Lane were shot multiple times.

Reportedly, a large SUV passed by and its occupants shot the homes, court documents allege. Numerous bullet holes were found in the residences, as well as bullets, and more than 20 casings were found in the street. Based on the evidence, police suspect both a 9 mm and .45-caliber weapon were used in the crime.

A couple who lives in the targeted duplex on Seventh Avenue West told police they woke up to the sound of gun shots and broken glass. Police reported the duplex was sprayed with bullets, and that the couple was visibly shaken and scared following the incident.

A resident who was on the other side of the duplex at the time of the shooting told police he was nearly hit by the bullets.

Two other residences, one on Sunnyside Drive and another on Ashley Creek Lane, each took fire as well. Both homes were occupied during the shooting, and police said one bullet passed through a wall a few feet from a sleeping child.

The couple who lives in the targeted duplex told police they believed their son knew who attacked them. However, he was not at home at the time. When police spoke to the son, he said Ingraham had recently threatened him over an ongoing dispute.

When police spoke to a resident of a home on Cottonwood Drive where Ingraham had been staying, the person told officers that “they did it,” referring to Ingraham and Bukowski. The resident said he, Bukowski and Ingraham were at the Cottonwood Drive residence when the two men allegedly said they were going to “deal with some business.”

The resident at Cottonwood Drive said when Ingraham and Bukowski returned, they had several handguns, including a 9 mm and a Glock .45. The man said he overheard Ingraham and Bukowski allegedly say they were out of bullets, according to court documents.

The man also said he heard Bukowski say he “drained his clip.” The man told police he believed Bukowski was the driver and had used the Glock .45.

According to court documents, another witness told police that Bukowski admitted to him that he had done something “sketchy” and that he needed to “bury the guns.”

Court documents also said Bukowski is under investigation for a similar incident that occurred earlier in 2019 in Columbia Falls, as well as a burglary.

Police also believe Bukowski is actively attempting to conceal evidence in the case and is believed to be a threat to several witnesses.

Bukowski was involved in a 2017 incident in Kalispell where police alleged he broke into a Fifth Avenue West residence, vandalized it and stole a child support payment card.

At a Jan. 26, 2018, court hearing, Bukowski was determined to not be a serious juvenile offender.

He was ordered to pay a $500 fine.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com