A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed Sunday on the 800 block of Howard Avenue in Billings, and investigators are examining whether the shooting was unintentional. No arrests had been made as of initial reports, and police have not released the name of the victim.
The shooting has prompted renewed conversation in Montana communities about teenagers and unsecured firearms. A gun safety expert in Billings told local media that incidents like this one underscore the importance of safe storage — keeping firearms locked and ammunition stored separately — particularly in homes with children and teenagers.
While the investigation is being conducted by Billings police, the broader question of teen access to firearms resonates statewide, including in Helena. Lewis and Clark County has its own active youth shooting sports programs and a significant number of households with firearms, making safe storage a recurring topic at local public health and school safety forums. Anyone with information about the Howard Avenue shooting is asked to contact Billings police.