MISSOULA – Details from a February shooting that took place on Turner Courtthat left one man in the hospital have begun to emerge in court documents.
Jaime Canada and Steven Simpkins are each being charged with one felony count of accountability for robbery and one count of accountability for aggravated burglary.
Simpkins and Canada have both been interviewed by the police. Each of them accuses the other of actually shooting the victim.
According to a police interview with both suspects, they went to the Turner Court apartments to rob one of its residents.
It is unclear if the two suspects knew the resident had been selling marijuana out of the apartment but the victim told police in an interview that he had been.
Once Simpkins and Canada burst into the apartment they immediately ordered the resident to open a safe and give them all its contents.
The victim was then punched in the back of the head and at one point was cut in the back of the leg by a sword that was located in the apartment to try and force him to open the safe.
The victim then tried to open up the safe but after he put in the incorrect password Simpkins and Canada became angry and continued to beat the victim.
According to an interview with police, the victim said at one point after he had attempted to get away from the two assailants Canada told Simpkins “move so I can f***ing shoot him.”
The victim was then shot in the upper chest. According to court documents, after Canada had fired the shot both he and Simpkins ran from the apartment.
Police had pursued some suggested leads by the victim but came away with nothing until they got a lead from someone saying that Simpkins had admitted the crime to them.
Simpkins then admitted to participating in the robbery, along with Canada.
Simpkins is currently in Missoula County Jail and a warrant has been issued for Canada, who MPD are actively pursuing.
Reporting by Connor McCauley for MTN News
