Shooting in Missoula Leaves One Man Hospitalized

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 16, 2025, Missoula Police Department officers responded to a shooting that had been reported at an apartment in the 2000 block of Cooper Street. Officers were informed that several gunshots had been discharged, and a male was shot. The initial caller reported that a minivan was observed backing out and quickly leaving the lot after the gunshots were heard. 

The first officer who responded noticed a male, John Doe, standing in the parking lot covered in blood. A female was screaming that Doe had just been shot. Officers instructed Doe to lie down so they could begin lifesaving measures. An officer cut Doe’s shirt, which revealed three bullet holes on the front of Doe’s body. Officers applied chest seals to Doe’s chest.  

During this time, officers attempted to get information regarding the shooter from Doe and the female. Both parties stated the shooter was a white male, who was partially bald with curly red hair, and that he drove off in a white minivan. The female stated the rear passenger side window of the van would be busted out from gunshots. Doe was transported to St. Patrick's Hospital, where he was admitted into the ICU. 

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Deputies Locate the Van 

Officers were notified that Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies had made contact with the van. As a deputy passed the van, he observed two males and the broken window. Deputies stopped the van, and the driver was identified as 27-year-old Josef Manchester. His passenger was also identified.  

Both males were detained, and when asked about firearms, Manchester stated there were two guns. One gun was between the driver’s seat and the center console, and the other was near the passenger seat. As Manchester was being escorted to a patrol car, he spontaneously stated, “I was trying to drop off his friend’s phone and his roommate came out swinging a bat at me, so I pulled out my gun.” 

Meanwhile, back at the crime scene, officers executed a search warrant of Doe’s apartment and observed two circular defects in the front door, which appeared to be from bullets. Additionally, officers observed blood spatter on the floor throughout the apartment, as well as circular defects through the TV screen, the rear window curtains, and the rear window of the apartment. These defects are believed to be holes from the bullets that entered through the front door and continued their trajectory through and out of the apartment. Outside of the residence, officers observed four silver bullet casings. 

Surveillance Video Shows What Happened 

Detectives reviewed video surveillance from property management on scene and obtained observations that concluded that Doe charged at Manchester with a baseball bat, in what appears to be in defense of himself and property after Manchester was banging on Doe’s door and attempting to get in.  

The video depicts Doe leaving the apartment with a bat in hand and striking Manchester with it before retreating back into his apartment and closing the door. Manchester is then observed retrieving a firearm from his pocket and firing two shots into Doe’s front door. Shortly after, Doe comes outside and is observed firing two shots towards the white van that Manchester fled away in. 

At the conclusion of an interview with Manchester, a detective stepped out and noticed a large gallon bag filled with what he believed to be personal items of Manchester. While inspecting the bag, the detective noticed there was a large clear plastic bag with cocaine in it, a digital scale with specks of white powder on it, and a small bag of suspected marijuana.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Manchester’s wallet was also in the bag and was filled with dollar bills of unknown denominations, so much so that it was almost an inch thick. The cocaine weighed approximately 8 grams. A TFO with the Missoula Drug Task Force knows that this amount of drugs is above the typical user quantity of cocaine. The combination of a large amount of cash, a digital scale, and a firearm is more indicative of an individual who is possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it. 

Manchester was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently being charged with felony assault with a weapon, two counts of felony criminal endangerment, and felony criminal possession with intent to distribute. His bond was set at $500,000. 

According to court documents, this investigation is ongoing. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.