Man charged in shooting incident

A 50-year-old Columbia Falls man is facing three felony counts after a shooting incident at his shop on U.S. 2 south of Highway 40 on Sept. 30.

William Russell is charged with one count of assault with a weapon for shooting at two men; one count of assault with a weapon for pointing a gun at a third man; and one count of criminal endangerment. He faces up to 50 years in prison and $150,000 in fines if convicted of all three counts.

According to court records, deputies were dispatched to the entrance of Glacier Park International Airport after Russell reported a theft and said he was following the suspect vehicle, which he said he had shot.

Two men told deputies they went to Russell's shop at the request of a third man. They were asked to meet with Russell and pick up some tools.

When they pulled into the shop's driveway, one man said, Russell pulled up behind them and then allegedly fired two shots at their vehicle, with one round hitting a rear tire. As the two men pulled out to leave, the man said, he allegedly saw Russell point his gun at the third man. Russell then chased them down the highway to the airport entrance.

The third man confirmed most of the other two men's account, adding that Russell allegedly pointed the gun at him when he yelled at the other two men to "get out of here."

The deputies noted that the first two men were visibly shaken and scared of Russell, while Russell was very agitated and argumentative. Russell admitted to shooting at the vehicle, the deputies reported.