Police officer shoots, kills man at Montana hotel

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A police officer shot and killed a 32-year-old Wyoming man at a Billings hotel early Thursday, Police Chief Rich St. John said.

The man was in the hotel clerk’s office with a handgun, refused orders to drop the weapon and was turning to face officers when Officer David Rashkow fired three shots, hitting the man in the chest, St. John told reporters.

No one else was injured. Rashkow was placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.

The clerk called police at about 4 a.m. to report an armed man was at the Days Inn acting strangely and making irrational statements. The man went behind the hotel reception area counter and at one point pointed the gun at his own head, St. John said.

When officers arrived, the man was sitting in the hotel office, where he could see security camera monitors showing that eight or nine officers had positioned themselves outside, St. John said. The man then threatened to start shooting.

The man was erratic, uncooperative and said things that did not make sense, making it difficult for officers to negotiate with him, St. John said.

After the man was shot, officers began CPR and the man was taken to the hospital, where he later died. His name and hometown were not immediately released.

The Yellowstone County sheriff’s office will assist with the investigation, St. John said.