In the summer of 2014, the life of Terry Matt Lozeau, a 51-year-old male, was tragically cut short in Ronan, Montana. On June 14th, a dispute over the repair of a pickup truck escalated into a fatal encounter. The argument was between Terry and his older brother, Harry Paul Lozeau, who was 53 at the time. The disagreement culminated in Harry shooting his brother in the head with a rifle.
The violent act was witnessed by another brother, Edward Stasso, and his girlfriend.
Following the shooting, a search for Harry Lozeau ensued. Authorities located and arrested him at his residence a few days later on a Tuesday evening, after receiving a tip from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal officers. He was subsequently jailed in Polson. An examination by the state crime lab confirmed that Terry Lozeau's death was the result of a single gunshot wound.
Initially, Harry Lozeau was charged with deliberate homicide. In a turn of events, he later pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea agreement. The agreement included a joint recommendation for a 40-year prison sentence. However, the legal proceedings took another direction, and the case went to trial. Due to local media coverage, the trial was moved to Helena to ensure an impartial jury. In January 2016, a jury found Harry Lozeau guilty of a lesser offense, negligent homicide. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in Montana State Prison for the killing of his brother.
