A victim in a series of shootings near Missoula in March that killed one man, critically wounded a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper, and left another man a paraplegic, has died.
Chelan County, Washington coroner Wayne Harris confirmed to MTN News that Julie Blanchard died Monday afternoon in Wenatchee, Washington.
Harris is investigating her cause of death.
Julie Blanchard, her son Casey Blanchard, and Shelley Hays were shot on March 14th off Expressway Boulevard in Missoula when they pulled over after noticing a vehicle behind them had flashing lights on.
After pulling over, suspect Johnathan Bertsch reportedly opened fire. Hays died on the scene while Casey and Julie Blanchard were transported to the hospital.
Bertsch was later arrested near Evaro after shooting Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer.
This past Saturday, Casey Blanchard returned from a Salt Lake City hospital to his home in Stevensville.
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer returned home from Utah in May.
- MHP “eternally thankful” to have Palmer and Blanchard home
- Missoula shooting victim Shelley Hays remembered
- WATCH: Trooper Palmer has returned home to Montana
- Montana Highway Patrol trooper shot near Missoula regains consciousness
- Montana Attorney General reflects on MHP trooper shooting
- Bond set at $2 million for Missoula shooting suspect
- Utah law enforcement gather to support Montana trooper
