Despite restraining orders against the other, the victim of a fatal shooting and the man now charged with killing him were living in the same Marion duplex.

Mark Bolton Ames, 52, was charged Tuesday with deliberate homicide for the Sunday morning shooting death of 60-year-old Harold Gordon.

If he is convicted, Ames could face between 10 and 100 years in prison as well as an additional two to 10 years for committing the crime with a weapon.

A document filed by the Flathead County Attorney’s Office says that both Ames and Gordon were living in Gordon’s duplex at 484 Cardigan Way.

That living situation was in spite of a request for a restraining order filed against Ames by Gordon and approved by District Judge Ted Lympus requiring Ames to maintain a distance of 5,000 feet from Gordon or Gordon’s home or vehicle.

In particular, Gordon requested that Ames “not go near my home or property or harm or harass anyone living on my property.” 

The restraining order was to be in effect until August.

Flathead County Undersheriff Dave Leib said the property was a duplex consisting of two apartments with a garage in between. One of the apartments was being rented by Ames’ wife. Leib said the living situation “seems to be a question.”

“Mr. Ames was not supposed to be around,” Leib said.

He previously said Ames also had a restraining order against Gordon that had been filed in Washington.

Leib said he was unable to explain why Ames or his wife might be living in the Marion duplex.

The document filed by the County Attorney’s Office alleges Ames fired several rounds from an AK-47 into Gordon’s apartment between midnight and 1:44 a.m. on Sunday. 

Gordon then reportedly grabbed a shotgun and exited the apartment to confront Ames.

That is when Ames is alleged to have shot Gordon twice with a .32-caliber semiautomatic handgun, killing him. Gordon, who died at the scene, never fired his weapon.

Ames’ wife and her 12- and 14-year-old children were in their apartment at the time, according to Leib. He said none of the three witnessed the shooting.

Leib initially said Gordon was only shot once in the chest, but the results of an autopsy completed at the Montana State Crime Lab later determined that he had also been shot in the shoulder.

An investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, according to Leib, and is expected to take another couple of days.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.