Suspect held in Coram homicide

An early morning shooting Thursday in Coram led to the death of a 54-year-old man and the arrest soon after of a 19-year-old man.

The victim, William Melton, and the man suspected by authorities of killing him, Martin J. Chandler, were said to be acquaintances, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said it has arrested Chandler in years past on a variety of charges. It described him Thursday as having apparently been a transient of late who once lived at Melton’s residence, where the shooting occurred, and who has family living there still.

Around 1:30 a.m. authorities received a report of shots fired at a Coram residence. A police officer from Columbia Falls and a deputy from Flathead County responded and found Melton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been shot multiple times, the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff Brian Heino said witnesses provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle, which was later stopped in the vicinity of the North Fork Road near Columbia Falls by a county deputy.

Chandler was arrested and is being held without bail on a charge of deliberate homicide. Heino said witnesses told investigators Chandler used a rifle to shoot Melton. But the sheriff said Thursday afternoon that investigators have not yet found a weapon and that until an autopsy is performed it is premature to speculate about what type of firearm was used.

Heino said it is not yet clear what might have motivated the shooting and whether drugs or alcohol played a role.

He said the investigation is ongoing.

Reporter Duncan Adams may be reached at dadams@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.