On a summer day in Helena, Montana, the life of 20-year-old Caucasian male Ryan William Eakin was tragically cut short. On July 7, 2016, Eakin was fatally shot in a parking lot near Montana and Bozeman streets. A graduate of Capital High School, he was taking business classes at Helena College of Technology. He was known for his artistic talents and his love for the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, and skiing.
An Eagle Scout, he had built a raptor rehabilitation house for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The events that led to his death began when he, along with 18-year-old Austin Lee Kroll-McLaughlin and another individual, drove to an area near a bus station. An altercation ensued, during which Kroll-McLaughlin allegedly began to pistol-whip the third individual. In the course of this assault, the firearm discharged, and the bullet struck and killed Ryan Eakin.
Following the incident, Austin Lee Kroll-McLaughlin was arrested and faced charges of deliberate homicide and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. The deliberate homicide charge was pursued under the felony murder rule, which applies when a death occurs during the commission of another felony, in this case, assault with a weapon. Kroll-McLaughlin was also accused of attempting to dispose of the gun used in the shooting. The community of Helena mourned the loss of a young man known for his gentle soul and creativity, whose life ended in a sudden and violent manner.
