Butte Shooter Arrested In Gallatin County Remains In Detention Center

Friday evening the suspect in a shooting that occurred the previous night in Butte was taken into custody in Gallatin County.  This operation was put together on very short notice and involved multiple agencies.  Its success was due to the cooperation between the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Bozeman Police Department, FBI, and ICE.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Luke Lapinski, who was considered to be armed and dangerous.  Information had been passed on from investigating agencies that Lapinski was likely in the Bozeman area.  Further information was developed which led to a specific residence on Hidden Valley Road.  In addition a citizen had spotted a vehicle matching Lapinski’s vehicle in the Valley Grove subdivision a short distance from Hidden Valley Road.  A perimeter was established to contain the area, and the joint Bozeman PD / Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) was called out.  As the Special Response Team was beginning to deploy, Lapinski was observed leaving the residence in the Corvette.  Deputies and MHP Troopers on the inner perimeter stopped the Corvette a short distance from the residence, and Lapinski was taken into custody without incident.

Investigators in Butte were notified of the apprehension, and the investigation will be turned over to their agency.  Lapinski is being held in the Gallatin County Detention Center and will have an initial court appearance in Gallatin County before being sent back to Butte.