On a tragic night in Missoula, Montana, the life of a beloved father and skilled mechanic, 28-year-old Shelley Hays, a Caucasian male, was cut short in a senseless act of violence. The events of March 14, 2019, would leave a scar on the community and result in a massive law enforcement response to apprehend the individual responsible for a violent crime spree.
That evening, what began as a seemingly minor traffic incident escalated into a deadly encounter.
Shelley Hays was a passenger in a vehicle with his friend Casey Blanchard and Blanchard's mother, Julie. After leaving a local bar, they were followed by a white Cadillac Escalade. Believing the driver might need assistance, they pulled over. The driver of the Escalade, 28-year-old Johnathan Birch, opened fire on their vehicle. Shelley Hays was fatally wounded at the scene. Casey and Julie Blanchard sustained serious injuries but survived the initial attack.
Following the shooting, Birch fled, sparking a large-scale manhunt. His violent rampage was not over. A short time later, he shot and critically wounded Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer, who had located his vehicle. The search for Birch continued for seven hours, involving numerous local and state law enforcement agencies. Authorities were eventually able to pinpoint his location, and he was taken into custody without further incident. It was later revealed that Birch had called his father after the shootings, admitting to a "road rage incident" and stating that he thought he "might have shot a cop."
In the aftermath of the horrific events, the community mourned the loss of Shelley Hays, who was remembered as a loving father to his five-year-old daughter, Chloe, and a man who could make friends with anyone. He was known for his strong work ethic, having built his own auto repair business, and for his passion for motorcycles and trucks. His death left a void in the lives of his family and his wide circle of friends.
Johnathan Birch was charged with one count of deliberate homicide for the death of Shelley Hays and three counts of attempted deliberate homicide for the shootings of Casey Blanchard, Julie Blanchard, and Trooper Wade Palmer. During his trial, details of his troubled past emerged, but they did not excuse the calculated and cold-blooded nature of his actions on that March night. In November 2021, a judge sentenced Birch to four consecutive life sentences in the Montana State Prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that he would be held accountable for the lives he irrevocably altered and the one he so tragically ended.
