Two Lincoln County residents, one a county deputy, are dead and a Kalispell man is in custody following an alleged shooting spree last Friday night near Eureka.

Lincoln County Deputy Ryan Terpsma, 28, and 46-year-old Merrisa Walker both perished in the shooting, according to information from the Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short.

The accused, 50-year-old Matthew David Dye, is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center with a deliberate homicide warrant pending. He was arrested following a lengthy pursuit. Other charges may be filed, including criminal endangerment and aggravated eluding a peace officer.

"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.”

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen offered condolences as well.

”Lincoln County Deputy Ryan Terpsma answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community," he said. "He will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Terpsma's friends and family, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, and the entire Eureka community. I encourage my fellow Montanans to join me. In Montana, we back the blue. As Attorney General, I will do everything I can to provide support to the community and ensure justice is served.”

Sheriff Short said Dye will be charged and have an initial hearing in Lincoln County Justice Court next week.

The American flag was lowered to half mast Saturday morning in remembrance and in honor of Terpsma.

Terpsma, who began his career with the county May 28, was shot and killed while responding to the initial disturbance call at 8:23 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at 118 Lone Pine Trail near Eureka. A Eureka police officer who accompanied Terpsma to the scene was also injured by gunfire, authorities said. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.

In a statement from Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, it shared its condolences with Terpsma’s family, friends, colleagues and the Lincoln County community.

“The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office mourns the loss of Deputy Terpsma. He served as a detention officer with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office from December 2024 until May 2026, when he joined the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy.”

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 Flathead County patrol vehicles. Deputies returned fire, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Dye stopped and surrendered at a roadblock set up at Bill Creek Road and Mountain Meadow Road, according to the Flathead Sheriff's Office, and deputies recovered the 7-year-old girl unharmed.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that 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.

Short said the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) will lead the investigation at his request.

The deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with Flathead County Sheriff’s Office policy. Montana’s DCI is the lead investigative agency.

According to Bellingham Metro News, Terpsma had family and friends in Whatcom County in western Washington. He was also celebrating his 28th birthday, according to social media posts by family members.

    Matthew David Dye. (Courtesy Flathead County Sheriff's Office)