1 dead in Montana, 3 wounded, including one soldier

The Missoula County Sheriff's Office announced that a man suspected of having participated in both shootings had been arrested Friday morning near Evaro, about fifteen kilometers north of Missoula.

According to authorities, Shelley Hayes and a friend, Casey Blanchard, were in a van driven by Blanchard's mother, Julie, who picked them up earlier on Thursday night at a Missoula bar.

According to the loading documents, a Cadillac Escalade lit the lights of the van and then opened fire on the occupants of the truck, hitting them all three.

Authorities found Hayes dead in the back seat of the truck. Casey Blanchard had been hit several times, but was aware and Julie Blanchard had also been touched and was aware, reported the Associated Press, citing the court documents.

Julie Blanchard said the Cadillac had followed them from the bar and that she had stopped thinking that the driver might need help, AP reported.

Montana Highway Patrol Soldier, Wade Palmer (Photo: MONTANA STATE)

A little over an hour after this shootout, the Montana Highway Patrol Soldier, Wade Palmer, located near a bar in Evaro a vehicle that matches the description of the one involved in the shootout of Missoula, according to Justice Department spokesman John Barnes.

The soldier told the dispatchers that he was under fire and that he did not answer the radio, the authorities said.

According to Montana Highway Patrol officials, Palmer was found injured and was still tied to his patrol car. The suspect had fled.

Palmer, 35, was first taken to a Missoula hospital and was reported in critical condition on Friday. Later, he was airlifted to Salt Lake City for treatment, the Missoula County Sheriff's Department said.

Palmer has been with MHP since 2012. He has a wife and two young children.

After a long manhunt, the sheriff's office put the suspect under the custody of Johnathan Bertsch without incident on Friday morning, officials said. He was charged with willful homicide and three counts of attempted murder.

The authorities found Bertsch with the help of his father, Burton Bertsch, who said his son had called to tell him: "I had a road rage incident. … I think I may have shot a cop, "according to Charging Documents.

The authorities spoke to Johnathan Bertsch using Burton's phone, but he refused to tell the police where he was. They found it after someone called 911 to report the Cadillac parked at the bottom of the driveway, along a road near the bar, according to documents.

He was scheduled to appear for the first time in court on Monday, the Associated Press reported.

The Criminal Investigation Division of the Department of Justice and the Missoula County Sheriff's Office are investigating the shooting, Barnes said.

Contribute: The Associated Press