Kalispell man in custody after deputy, woman killed in Lincoln County shooting

A Kalispell man is in custody following an alleged shooting spree that left a woman and a Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy dead during a Friday night disturbance, authorities said.

The suspect, 50-year-old Matthew David Dye, was apprehended following a chase on U.S. 93 during which Dye allegedly shot at pursuing Flathead County deputies.

Lincoln County Deputy Ryan Terpsma, 28, was shot and killed while responding to the initial disturbance call at 8:23 p.m. at 118 Lone Pine Trail near Eureka. A Eureka police officer who accompanied Terpsma to the scene also was injured by gunfire, authorities said.

Dye allegedly fled from the home with a 7-year-old girl in the vehicle, driving south toward Kalispell. Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies located the vehicle and began a chase on U.S. 93, where Dye allegedly shot at and disabled two patrol vehicles.

Dye stopped just before a roadblock on U.S. 93 and surrendered.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that 46-year-old Merrisa Walker also had been shot and killed at the scene of the original call on Lone Pine Trail. A girl also was injured but was treated at the scene and released.

Dye is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center with a deliberate homicide warrant pending.

According to information from Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short, charges will be filed next week. The Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation will lead the investigation at Short's request.

"It has been trying times in Lincoln County during the last year," Short said in a press release. "We are all deeply affected by the loss of Deputy Terpsma but know we can count on our community to support the Sheriff’s Office and each other as we grieve the loss of this fine young man."