GREAT FALLS — A man who allegedly shot a person in Great Falls on Tuesday, Jan. 14 made his initial court appearance via video on Wednesday afternoon.
Court documents released on Wednesday state that David Martel called dispatch and said that he shot a man, stating that he did it because the man "came at him."
When police officers arrived at the residence, they heard the victim yelling for help and saying that he had been shot.
Martel reportedly immediately told officers, "I am the one who shot him."
According to court documents, Martel said that he frequently sat in a chair in the living room with a pistol tucked in the chair, waiting for the victim to "cross" an imaginary line.
During Tuesday's incident, Martel indicated that the man had crossed the line, at which point he shot the man.
The court documents state that officers saw what appeared to be a gunshot wound near the bottom of the victim's rib cage.
The victim's medical condition was detailed by a physician in the emergency department at Benefis Health System, who said the victim sustained severe, life-threatening injuries to his liver and spine and that the injuries could cause paralysis from the waist down.
The court documents state the victim lived in the basement of the residence, which is owned by a woman who is in a dating relationship with Martel.
Prosecutors had recommended that Martel be released on recognizance with no bail, but District Court Judge David Grubich did not agree.
“Under the circumstances, I’m not going to follow the state's recommendation, considering the allegations here. I’m going to set your bond at $100,000, I’m going to order that you stay 1,500 feet away from the victim, and that you have GPS (ankle monitor) applied prior to your release at your own expense," Grubich said.
The Cascade County Detention Center roster says that Martel is being held on a charge of deliberate homicide.
However, MTN contacted the County Attorney, who said that as of 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, the victim was still alive. He did not offer an explanation for the discrepancy.
We will update you as we get more information.
