A Friday night shooting in Eureka, Montana, ended with two people dead, two others injured and a 50-year-old suspect in custody after a dangerous chase along U.S. Highway 93. Authorities identified the suspect as Matthew David Dye of Kalispell. Investigators say he fled the scene with a 7-year-old girl before allegedly firing at pursuing Flathead County deputies and disabling two patrol vehicles.
The violence began around 8:23 p.m. Friday, October 30, when Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Terpsma, 28, and a Eureka police officer responded to a disturbance call at 118 Lone Pine Trail. Both officers were struck by gunfire during the response. Terpsma died at the scene, while the police officer survived with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
A closer investigation revealed that the shooting had claimed another life inside the residence. Authorities identified the second victim as Merrisa Moore Walker, 46, who had also been shot and killed. A juvenile girl was wounded during the incident but received treatment at the scene and was released.
Dye allegedly left the property with a 7-year-old girl and headed toward Kalispell. Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies located his vehicle and began a pursuit. During the chase, Dye allegedly opened fire on the deputies, damaging two patrol vehicles and creating another dangerous situation for the officers involved.
The pursuit came to an end after law enforcement officers established a roadblock on U.S. Highway 93. Dye stopped his vehicle just before reaching the roadblock and surrendered. Deputies then took him into custody, ending the search that had followed the deadly shooting in Eureka.
Dye, 50, was being held at the Flathead County Detention Center. Updated jail information listed felony allegations of deliberate homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated eluding a peace officer and criminal endangerment. His court date was listed for November 2, while authorities said he would face proceedings in Lincoln County Justice Court.
The investigation has since been handed over to the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation at the request of Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short. Investigators are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events that led to the deadly encounter. Authorities have not released further details about the original disturbance call.
The death of Deputy Terpsma has also drawn a response from Montana officials. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office expressed deep sadness over losing the 28-year-old deputy and thanked residents for standing with the department. Sheriff Short said the county had experienced difficult times and that officers would rely on community support as they mourned their colleague.
In a separate message, the sheriff’s office wrote, “Our hearts are broken.” The department asked residents to keep Terpsma’s family, friends and fellow officers in their thoughts during the difficult period.
What began with a disturbance call at a Eureka residence ended with the deaths of Terpsma and Walker, injuries to two other people and a multi-agency pursuit that crossed into Flathead County. Dye remains in custody as investigators continue working on the case.
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