Missoula Standoff: Missoula Man Who Killed Himself in Standoff ID’d

MISSOULA – The Missoula County Sheriff's office has confirmed that a man who committed suicide during a standoff Thursday is the same man accused of severely abusing a kitten over the weekend.

Capt. Greg Hintz says 63-year-old Gary Bassett of Missoula died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A small-caliber handgun was found at the scene.

An officer who had gone to Bassett's home to arrest him called 911 at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday to report a shot had been fired in the home, prompting additional officers and SWAT team members to gather outside the apartment.

Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg says a felony animal cruelty charge had been filed against Bassett, who was accused of stomping and trying to flush a kitten down the toilet Sunday. The kitten was euthanized Wednesday after vets determined it had a broken spine.