Woman charged in fatal Polson shooting
EMILY MESSER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 1 week AGO
Emily Messer joined the Lake County Leader in July of 2025 after earning a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Montana. Emily grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri and enjoys covering agriculture and conservation. She's lived in Montana since 2022 and honed her reporter craft with the UM J-School newspaper and internships with the RMEF Bugle Magazine and the Missoulian. At the Leader she covers the St. Ignatius Town Council, Polson City Commission and a variety of business, lifestyle and school news. Contact Emily Messer at [email protected] or 406.883.4343 | November 10, 2025 6:00 AM
A 33-year-old woman has been charged in a shooting death in Polson last week.
Ashley Whitmore was taken into custody at the Lake County Detention Center and has been charged with deliberate homicide for the death of 39-year-old Adam Mowatt.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 6, Polson Police responded to shots fired at 1410 Fifth Ave. East, according to information from the Polson Police Department. When officers arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound and began administering medical aid. The man, identified as Mowatt, was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center where he later died.
Whitmore was taken into custody at the scene.
According to a press release from Polson Police Chief George Simpson, local law enforcement partners, including Lake County Sheriff's Office, Flathead Tribal Police and Montana Highway Patrol, assisted at the scene and are aiding in the investigation.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Adam Mowatt during this incredibly difficult time,” Simpson stated in the press release. “We are committed to conducting a thorough and professional investigation, and we ask the community to respect the privacy of those affected as we work to bring clarity and justice to this case.”
Simpson noted that the scene is in the same location as the mechanic shop that caught fire earlier this year.
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