Girlfriend also charged in Hungry Horse shooting
The 29-year-old girlfriend of the Hungry Horse man charged in shooting at two different groups of people on July 21 also faces felony assault charges.
Leaha Terrell faces one charge of felony assault with a weapon and one charge of felony solicitation of assault with a weapon. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for each of the charges if convicted.
Her boyfriend, Ray Bell, 39, faces two charges of felony assault with a weapon and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. If convicted, Bell faces up to 20 years in prison for each assault with a weapon charge. He also faces a felony charge of criminal mischief for allegedly ramming his aunt’s vehicle with his truck earlier that same day.
Terrell and Bell are currently incarcerated with bonds set at $60,000 each. In the charging document, Flathead County deputy attorney Travis Ahner warned that Terrell had allegedly arranged for her and Bell to flee to Oregon if released. He also noted that Terrell has a prior conviction for a violent felony crime in Pennsylvania and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to court records, the shooting incident likely evolved out of a family dispute over the drowning death of Bell’s cousin in the Middle Fork of the Flathead River last year.
Three men responding to Bell’s threats to another cousin ran into trouble when they drove to Bell’s house on Sixth St. West in Hungry Horse. Bell allegedly shot at their vehicle, blowing out the driver’s side window. The driver later went to North Valley Hospital to have shotgun pellets removed from his arm.
Shortly afterwards, Bell’s aunt and her daughter drove past his house and allegedly saw Bell aim a “long gun” at them. The daughter claims she heard Terrell shout, “Shoot them, Ray, shoot them.” The two women claim Bell fired three times at their vehicle.
Terrell and Bell pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 9. Terrell’s request for a bond reduction was denied. Their next scheduled hearing is Sept. 19.