Danielle Moore Obituary, Death; – On Monday, Broadwater County Sheriff and Coroner Nick Rauser confirmed the identity of the woman fatally shot in an officer-involved incident on March 14 in downtown Helena as 36-year-old Danielle Moore from Helena.
Due to the involvement of Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s deputies in the event, Broadwater County is serving as the coroner. Sheriff Rauser indicated that the autopsy is being conducted at the State Crime Lab in Missoula, and he is currently awaiting the results to determine the official cause of death and the toxicology report.
The officer involved in the shooting has left the Helena community with lingering questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the event.
What is known is that the incident began at approximately 1:30 PM on Friday at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, where investigators report that a woman threatened a judge and court personnel with a firearm. This confrontation did not occur inside the courthouse but rather on its perimeter, within the curtilage, as Sheriff Leo Dutton of Lewis and Clark County explained, “That person did not make it past our security.”
In addition to the courthouse’s contracted security, which operates similarly to TSA at airports, Sheriff Dutton noted that one deputy from his office is present there. He expressed a desire to discuss with the Lewis and Clark County Commission the possibility of enhancing security measures. “It would improve the safety of everyone if I could assign more deputies to the courthouse. This incident highlights our concerns. Judges are particularly worried about their safety,” Sheriff Dutton stated.
The incident concluded in the 500 block of Broadway Avenue, where the woman was shot after not complying with commands from law enforcement officers. Sheriff Dutton reported that four officers from the sheriff’s office and the Helena Police Department were involved in the shooting.
The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is currently looking into the matter. Cases of this nature can be quite complex. “The challenge with this case lies in the existence of two crime scenes: one inside the courthouse and the other where deadly force was employed. This requires careful consideration,” he added.
