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Woman charged with deliberate homicide in Polson shooting

EMILY HEIMARK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months, 3 weeks AGO
by EMILY HEIMARK
Emily Heimark (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 in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri. She's lived in Montana since 2022 and honed her reporting craft through the UM J-School newspaper and internships at the RMEF Bugle Magazine and the Missoulian. At the Leader, she covers government, business, education, agriculture and community news. Contact Emily Heimark at [email protected] or 406.883.4343 | November 10, 2025 8:00 AM

Last Thursday’s shooting in Polson resulted in the death of Adam Mowatt, 39. A woman, 33-year-old Ashley Whitmore, is in custody at the Lake County Detention Center and has been charged with deliberate homicide.  

At approximately 8:30 a.m. Nov. 6, Polson Police responded to shots fired at 1410 Fifth Avenue East. When officers arrived, they found a male with a gunshot wound and began administering medical aid. The male, identified as Mowatt, was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he died, despite medical efforts.  

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 this scene is in the same location as the mechanic shop that caught fire earlier this year. 

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