(UPDATE) The man who died has been identified as Dr. Eugene “Buzz” Walton II.
The Lewis & Clark County Coroner released the name on Monday.
Walton, 48 years old, was a physician at Performance Injury Care & Sports Medicine in Helena, according to its website.
(1st Report, Sunday) The Helena Police Department says a 48-year-old man died Sunday afternoon, after a rifle went off in the former Kmart parking lot, off Cedar Street.
HPD Lt. Brett Petty said officers responded just before 12:30 p.m., after multiple people called 911 to report hearing a gunshot in the area. They found a man with an apparent gunshot wound, and began attempting lifesaving measures. The Helena Fire Department and medical responders from St. Peter’s Hospital arrived soon after and provided medical aid.
The man was taken to St. Peter’s by ambulance, but he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at the hospital.
Petty said the man had just returned from a hunting trip with another man, and that he was trying to get his hunting rifle out of the back of the truck when a rifle discharged.
Petty said the incident is still under investigation. The man’s name has not yet been released.
-Reported by Jonathon Ambarian/MTN News
