In the late hours of April 16, 2022, a brief altercation in the parking lot of the Snowslip Inn in Essex, Montana, ended in the tragic death of 36-year-old Jeremy Mckenzie, a White male. Deputies from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene just before 11 p.m. to find several people attempting to render medical aid to Mckenzie, who had been shot. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Originally from Texas, Jeremy Mckenzie was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping, hunting, and fishing. He had recently embarked on a new business venture on the outskirts of Glacier National Park with his fiancée. He was born on March 29, 1986, in Gainesville, Texas, and was a 2004 graduate of Callisburg High School.
His family remembers him as a beloved son, brother, and uncle who will be deeply missed.
Detectives with the sheriff's office identified and interviewed several individuals involved in the incident, including the shooter, a man identified as Joseph Pino. Both Mckenzie and Pino were reportedly armed during their encounter. Following the initial investigation, Pino was released. For nearly a year, the case remained an open homicide investigation as authorities, including the Flathead County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Team, processed evidence and conducted interviews.
In March 2023, the Flathead County Attorney's Office announced that no charges would be filed against Joseph Pino. The decision was based on a thorough investigation that raised issues of self-defense. The County Attorney stated that prosecutors did not believe a successful prosecution was possible based on the evidence, which included search warrants, subpoenas, witness accounts, and a physical examination of the scene. It was noted that the witnesses remained present, called 911, and administered aid to Mckenzie. The victim's family was informed they could pursue a civil case or request a review of the case by the state Attorney General's Office. The Snowslip Inn, the site of the fatal shooting, has since been torn down.
