Suspect Killed In Phillips County Shooting

At 7:39 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, Phillips County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to an address south of Saco for a person who had been shot. The suspect was reported still to be armed and threatened that anyone coming into the yard would get shot. Deputies and ambulance personnel responded to the scene. The suspect was confronted, resulting in a pursuit.

During the pursuit, the suspect rammed his vehicle into a deputy’s car, disabling it. The deputies responded with deadly force and the suspect was killed. The original gunshot victim was transported to a Billings Hospital with serious injuries, and the suspect was declared deceased at the scene. There is currently no threat to the public.

On April 30, Valley County Undersheriff Chris Richter announced the suspect was identified as Michael John Wiederrich, 40, of south Saco.

At Sheriff Lytle’s request, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation has been asked to conduct an independent investigation and the Valley County Coroner has been asked to conduct the death investigation. The decedent will be taken to Billings for an autopsy at the State Crime Lab.

After the completion of the investigation, a public Coroner’s Inquest will be held, as required by Montana Statute.

Phillips County Deputies were assisted by Valley County Sheriff’s Deputies, Blaine County Deputies and the Glasgow Police Department.