Man killed in May shooting of Missoula officer identified

MISSOULA — Authorities have released the name of the man who died in an officer-involved shooting in Missoula on May 14.

Ravalli County Sheriff and Coroner Steve Holton said Christopher Brian Couts, 32, of Shasta Lake, Calif., died in the shooting.

The incident began around 2 a.m. on May 14 after an officer attempted to stop a driver – now identified as Couts – who was suspected of drunk driving in the 700 block of South Orange Street .

Couts took off in his vehicle, then eventually fled police on foot. He was found near the 800 block of South Fourth Street West about an hour later.

Missoula Police Department spokeswoman Whitney Bennett previously said officers attempted to arrest the suspect, but he was uncooperative and displayed a gun.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) continues to investigate the shooting.

Once the investigation is completed, the results will be forwarded to the Missoula County Prosecutor's Office so that a coroner's investigation can be conducted.

The Missoula County Sheriff's Office had asked the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office to conduct the coroner's investigation.