Frank Cogar, the 35-year old man who was shot by a Missoula police officer at a trailer court on Wednesday, has died.
The Missoula Police Department responded to a reported robbery and assault in the 1700 block of Cooley Street at the Hollywood Trailer Court at around 10:30 a.m.
MPD spokesman Sgt. Travis Welsh says officers encountered a man - later identified as Cogar - armed with a handgun.
Welsh said in a media briefing on Wednesday that Cogar was uncooperative and officers learned he had a firearm. The officers engaged in "lengthy dialogue" with the man and ordered him several times to drop his weapon. Welsh said that at some point, shots were fired and the man was injured.
"The threat he posed caused the officers to make a decision to defend themselves and the man was shot," according to an MPD news release.
Gary Galland posted on Facebook: "This is just 2 or 3 trailers down from me. Wife and I heard 7 shots fired in about a 3 second span."
Kayla Shatto also posted on Facebook: "I watched everything out my window...he had a gun and wouldn’t put it down!! They didn’t want to shoot but he gave them no choice and it was terrifying for the people who live here!"
Cogar was taken to St. Patrick Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
No other injuries were reported, and the officers directly involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay per MPD policy.
Due to the involvement of MPD officers, interim Police Chief Mike Colyer has requested the assistance of the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation, which is standard procedure in such cases.
- 1st Report: One person injured after shots fired in Missoula
