Kalispell man ID'd in fatal shooting

A 53-year-old Kalispell man is dead after he was fatally shot by a man he knew at an Eighth Avenue West residence Saturday evening.

According to information from the Kalispell Police Department, John Araujo was shot by another Kalispell resident inside the shooter’s home sometime before 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.

Araujo was charged with methamphetamine trafficking in September by federal authorities after he was stopped Sept. 18. Two other defendants also were charged along with Araujo — Kristal Patricia Leonard, 34, of Huntington Beach, California, and John Murray Barry, 39, of Palmdale, California, who were stopped as well. A total of 31.5 pounds of meth was found in the three vehicles.

The man who shot Araujo told a Kalispell Police officer he committed the shooting. He was questioned and later released. No charges have been filed and the incident is still being investigated.

The investigation began Saturday when a call was received requesting a welfare check at the home.

“As details were learned, the welfare check turned into a homicide investigation,” Kalispell Police Capt. Jim Wardensky stated in a media release Sunday.

Then, Wardensky said two suspects were detained and questioned about the situation.

In the news release, police said initial information provided to officers was vague and there were no reports of suspicious activity or suspicious persons in the neighborhood.

Shortly afterward, a man who was later identified as the shooter, asked to speak to a Kalispell officer and said he had shot someone in his residence.

Officers then went to the home and found Araujo, who was dead at the scene.

Authorities do not believe there is a danger to the public.

Those who have more information about the incident are asked to call Wardensky at 406-758-7794.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.