He was fatally shot about three hours later behind an elementary school. Tuesday in the casino along one of the city's main commercial strips.

The Great Falls Tribune reports that Gardipee also was wanted for misdemeanor assault at the time of the shooting, which occurred about 2 a.m. He was facing a new allegation of probation violations following a November arrest on possession of heroin and methamphetamine, according to court records.

Gardipee was released from prison in May. Gardipee's criminal record includes convictions for assaulting a police officer, robbery, forgery, theft, burglary, drug possession and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, according to the Montana Department of Corrections. He was involved in a robbery on the same night, but it was unclear if the target was the casino, according to court documents filed in a related criminal case against one of Gardipee's associates. Police have not released a motive for the slayings, which they believe Gardipee carried out.

marshals shot and killed 41-year-old Ricky Lee Gardipee early Tuesday in the city of Great Falls, about a mile (1.5 kilometers) away from the Emerald City Casino where three people were killed and a fourth was wounded, a coroner said. GREAT FALLS, MT – A Montana man connected to a casino shooting that left three people dead had a long criminal history and was being sought by police before the attack, according to public records and court documents filed Wednesday.ĭeputy U.S.

Emerald city casino great falls montana