Man shot, killed near East Glacier following high-speed pursuit

A 71-year-old Helena-area man was shot and killed during an armed standoff with law enforcement officers near East Glacier.

The shooting incident followed a high-speed chase along U.S. 2 that began near West Glacier, with speeds reaching 90 mph. The winding mountain highway was closed to traffic for several hours.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said his office received a report shortly before 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, of a missing man, James Marlowe Ness, who was armed with a shotgun and possibly suicidal.

Undersheriff Dave Leib said officials knew the location of Ness’ 2012 GMC Yukon based on its OnStar system.

Deputies spotted Ness’ vehicle and began a pursuit, but backed off due to high speed and road conditions near Essex, Curry said.

Glacier County deputies took over the pursuit when Ness’ vehicle crossed over Marias Pass into Glacier County. An attempt to stop the vehicle involved laying spike strips across the highway.

Curry said the pursuit ended with an armed standoff and shots fired.

“Ness was struck during the exchange and died upon arrival at the hospital,” an FBI press release later stated.