Hungry Horse man shoots ex-wife in dispute

Flathead County detectives released more details into the investigation of a Hungry Horse shooting last week.

Officers were dispatched to a home in Hungry Horse on Wednesday, March 21 when they reportedly found a woman who had been shot in the stomach laying outside.

The officers reportedly identified the woman’s ex-husband, James Adrian Erickson, 62, as the suspected shooter. Officers reportedly used a speaker system to order Erickson out of the house and took him into custody.

According to the police report, Erickson told detectives that he was at his house with his daughter when his ex-wife came inside. He allegedly told the woman to get out while holding a .357-caliber pistol.

Erickson told police he had no intention of firing the pistol. He reportedly told the detective his finger was on the trigger when the woman grabbed at it — causing the firearm to discharge.

Officers later spoke with the woman at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. According to the police report, the woman told detectives that Erickson “hates her.” She reportedly went on to tell police that Erickson was threatening her with the gun when she grabbed at the end of it and it went off. Erickson is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center on a felony assault with a weapon charge. He will be arraigned in Flathead District Court in front of Robert B. Allison on April 5. If convicted, Erickson could face up to 20 years in prison.