A Flathead County jury last week acquitted a man accused of shooting another man following a parking dispute in Kalispell in September 2023.  

Prosecutors charged John David Walker, 71, with felony assault with a weapon in connection with the Sept. 27 shooting. Following a three-day trial in Flathead County District Court, jurors spent about two hours deliberating before returning with a not guilty verdict on Nov. 14.

County Attorney Travis Ahner prosecuted the case while attorney Stephen Nardi served as Walker's defense counsel. Judge Heidi Ulbricht presided over the case.  

The alleged confrontation occurred in the parking lot of Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply on U.S. 93, according to court documents. Responding Kalispell Police officers found Timothy Saxer on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.  

After receiving care at Logan Health Medical Center, Saxer told investigators that he found a red pickup truck parked in the store's handicapped ramp, according to court documents. He waited to speak with the driver, later identified as Walker, and the two began exchanging words and expletives.  

Saxer admitted shoving his shopping cart down the ramp, where it struck the pickup truck, court documents said. An angry Walker drew a gun on Saxer, who hit him on the head, court documents alleged. Walker then shot Saxer, court documents said. 

A witness told investigators they saw two men arguing in the parking lot and watched as Saxer punched Walker. The witness said she was walking by when she heard several gunshots, according to court documents.  

Another witness reported hearing a gunshot while sitting in his parked truck. He told investigators that he saw Walker allegedly firing into the parking lot. He convinced Walker to hand him the gun, court documents said. 

Walker allegedly told the second witness that Saxer had cussed at him and hit him. 

When officers arrested Walker, they seized a loaded magazine from him, court documents said.  

Walker told them he needed medical attention for the hit to his head. He also made a phone call, telling the person on the other end of the line that he had been "arrested for shooting someone in self-defense," court documents said. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].