Man faces attempted deliberate homicide charge in rural Columbia Falls road rage incident

A man involved in an apparent road rage incident on Columbia Falls Stage Road Christmas Eve has been charged with attempted deliberate homicide and felony criminal endangerment for shooting a man in the head and nearly shooting his 8-year-old child, who was in a car seat in the vehicle.

According to the motion and leave to file an information, Mitchell Alexander Kleinman, 24, allegedly shot several times at Jesse Lamberson while Lamberson was in his black Tundra pickup truck on Columbia Falls Stage Road about 2:16 p.m. near Sullivan Cross Road. 

According to court documents, Lamberson was northbound on Columbia Falls Stage Road when a vehicle in front of him slowed down to turn. Kleinman, driving a Mercedes, then allegedly passed both of them and then slowed in front of Lamberson and stopped to get his mail. Lamberson then pulled up to Kleinman and reportedly asked Kleinman what his issue was. 

Shortly thereafter, Kleinman allegedly took out a pistol and started shooting at Lamberson’s vehicle. Kleinman called 911 at 2:22 p.m. and reported the incident, claiming he thought Lamberson was going to start shooting at him. 

Neighbors heard a few gunshots and Lamberson pulled his Tundra into a driveway and told the owners he had been shot. 

Lamberson had a bullet wound to the right side of his head by his right ear. He told deputies he could not hear out of it. 

The front window of the Lamberson’s Tundra was reportedly shattered, there was a bullet hole in the right-side mirror, a bullet hole in the passenger headrest, bullet holes in the topper and 10 bullet holes in the rear passenger door and window where the 8-year-old child was sitting. The child was not physically injured, however, though was crying and visibly upset. 

Lamberson was transported to Logan Health for treatment of his injuries. 

Kleinman was located outside his house by Flathead County Sheriff Deputies and told to raise his hands in the air. 

“I am not a threat,” Kleinman allegedly yelled at deputies making the arrest. “I’m scared for my life. I didn’t know what the guy was going to do.” 

Kleinman also claimed that he thought Lamberson was going to hit him when Kleinman pulled into his driveway. 

Kleinman later told deputies that he fired his handgun about halfway down his driveway and that he had a full magazine when he started to fire. He did not know how many rounds he had fired.
He was taken into custody and is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center on $500,000 bond. He told deputies he put the pistol in another vehicle on his property.

Kleinman’s arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 15 in Flathead County District Court.