The Columbia Falls woman shot after an Oct. 10 standoff with the Flathead County SWAT team was upgraded to fair condition as of Oct. 14.
Authorities at Kalispell Regional Medical Center reported that Michelle Gentry, 54, was in fair condition, upgraded from critical condition when she initially arrived at the hospital after the standoff.
Gentry was shot twice after emerging from her house on Eastland Crossroads with a handgun and advancing toward members of the Flathead County SWAT Team, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.
The shooting occurred at the end of an hours-long standoff between Gentry and authorities that began at about 2 p.m. on Oct. 10. According to Sheriff Chuck Curry, deputies responded to the Eastland Crossroads residence at the report of an armed, suicidal woman.
Deputies at the scene reported that they were able to make phone contact with the woman and confirmed she was suicidal and armed. When she refused to leave the residence, negotiations began and SWAT set up a perimeter.
After several hours of unsuccessful negotiations, Gentry exited the residence at about 6:30 p.m. and advanced on SWAT members while holding a handgun. A SWAT deputy fired on her, hitting her twice.
Gentry was transported to KRMC, where she was listed in critical condition.
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kalispell Police Department conduct an outside investigation of the incident, as well as process the scene.
The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation, as per FCSO policy.
Curry said on Monday that there were not yet any new developments in the case.