U.S. Highway 2 closed beyond West Glacier due to homicide investigation

U.S. 2 is closed between West and East Glacier this morning after a lengthy police chase left one person dead early Thursday morning.

According to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, the highway is closed due to an investigation and motorists are asked to avoid the area. The chase ended at mile marker 2 in the Cascadilla area.

According to information from the Great Falls Police Department, at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance occurring in the 3000 block of Sixth St. NE.

When officers arrived, they found one person dead and learned the suspect, a man, had taken a hostage and fled Cascade County. A subsequent homicide investigation is underway.

The chase involved several other law enforcement agencies and at about 6:20 a.m. the pursuit ended in Flathead County.

Heino said the man who is suspected of the homicide and kidnapping was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer from another agency and the hostage is safe.

The Montana Department of Criminal Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting.

Authorities said U.S. 2 likely will be closed for several hours.