Security Concerns Ahead of Montana’s State Bball Tourneys

Sheriff Linder Sent This Update and Correction on March 4, 2024

My earlier press release stated that the victim in this stabbing case was a juvenile. The victim is actually an adult, 18 years old. The defendant is a 15 year old male. The  vehicle that the suspect left the area in, was identified through the use of the video security system on the Metra  grounds.

On Saturday 3-2-24, at approx. 2:30 pm, the suspect vehicle was spotted by a deputy on Blue Creek road who began following the vehicle. BPD officers in the area also saw and recognized  the vehicle, and all followed it north on S. Billings Blvd. A traffic stop was conducted and the vehicle pulled into the parking lot at the Reno club. The stabbing suspect was taken into custody without incident.

ORIGINAL POST

A juvenile was arrested following a stabbing incident at the Metra in Billings during a Class B basketball tournament. Will area venues be ramping up security ahead of next weekend's state basketball tournaments?

What happened at the Metra over the weekend?

Billings was serving as host for the Southern B basketball tournament. That's when this incident happened, according to a press release from Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder Saturday night.

On Friday evening March 1, 2024, at approximately 7:30 pm, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with medical personnel responded to the Metra for a reported stabbing. The victim is a juvenile male who was treated, and transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. During the investigation, Deputies were able to identify the suspect, who is also a juvenile male. At this time I do not know the medical condition of the victim.

Sheriff Linder says the investigation is ongoing and investigators are actively looking for the suspect. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 406-256-2929.

As KTVQ-TV reported, the MetraPark announced that they would be ramping up security for the remainder of the weekend's games.

So what will other venues across the state do? Will they see this incident as a one-off situation? Has Montana changed enough, especially given the increase in youth violence in parts of the state, that increased security will now be expected- even for youth sporting events?

What will Great Falls, Butte, Missoula, and Bozeman do moving forward etc? What do you think? Message us on the app, or e-mail aaron (at) montanatalks.com