On a rural county road south of Billings, Montana, the life of 32-year-old Josiah Worth Small was cut short on the morning of November 7, 2024. Known to his friends and family as Josey or Josey Wales, he was a man remembered for his unbreakable spirit. The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office received a call from Small himself, reporting that he had been shot.
Deputies were dispatched to the 7900 block of Cormier Road, a remote dirt road between Billings and Prior, where they found him still breathing. Despite their life-saving efforts, Small succumbed to his injuries.
Josiah, a resident of Lame Deer who also spent time in Billings, was born on November 24, 1991. From birth, he was a fighter, overcoming initial breathing difficulties and a subsequent illness. His family remembers him as an intelligent and entertaining individual, who could make anyone laugh with his impersonations. He was deeply affected by the earlier losses of his siblings, Tyrel and Taezha, and was committed to keeping their memories alive.
The investigation into Josiah Worth Small's death was immediately launched as a homicide. The authorities have been seeking information from the public, asking for any witnesses who may have seen suspicious activity on Cormier Road around the time of the shooting. As of now, investigators have not publicly identified any suspects in connection with the case, and no arrests have been announced. The community and his large, loving family are left to mourn the loss of a man who, despite life's challenges, always moved forward with an open heart.
