Montana Arrest May Have Thwarted a Mass Shooting

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Flagstaff, Arizona police say a man apprehended over the weekend in Bozeman was wanted for making online threats of staging a mass shooting.

However, details of why the man headed north haven't been included in the initial information on the case.

Police say it all started Friday when they received reports that the suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Justin Hill of Ask Fork, Arizona had been making threats of a shooting on social media.

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What Kind of Threats Did the Flagstaff Suspect Make?

According to Flagstaff Police, Hill had threatened to conduct mass shootings at several locations, including schools, government officers, and businesses in the Flagstaff area.

Police immediately obtained an arrest warrant, and issued a description of him, and his car to regional law enforcement, putting his information out in hopes of him being spotted by an officer, or through a tip from the general public.

The Manhunt Ended in Montana

Flagstaff issued a subsequent release on Sunday, saying Hill had been apprehended without incident after he was tracked to Bozeman, where he was taken into custody just before noon. He was arrested on the charges contained in the Arizona warrant.

There was no initial indication as to why Hill had come to Montana, but the case remains under investigation. There's also been no information as to when he might be extradited back to Arizona to face charges.

A Flagstaff Police spokesman credited "non-stop work hours and resources" by Arizona law enforcement, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshall's Service and Bozeman Police for making the successful arrest.

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