Great Falls, MT: 'It was horrifying' neighbor says of murder-suicide

BY KIMBALL BENNION • TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER • SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

The man who lives at the house on 12th Avenue South where John Lesh fired gunshots and then killed himself Saturday said two bullets came through his house, grazing him and barely missing his wife.



Chris Weiland, 38, said he and his wife, Rachelle, were both in the house when Lesh knocked on the door Saturday night.

When he answered the door, Lesh apologized for a confrontation they had more than a year before, Weiland said. He added that he then shook Lesh's hand, at which time he noticed Lesh had a gun in the other hand.

Lesh, 45, then began to cock the gun and raise it toward him, Weiland said. Weiland closed the door and shifted his body away from it.

Weiland said a bullet then came through the door, grazed him on the left side, went through the couch and hit his coffee table.

Weiland's wife, who was standing near a window, then saw Lesh point the gun at her through the window, Weiland said. She threw herself on the ground shortly before he fired.

"I thought she was dead," Weiland said.

Rachelle Weiland apparently barely missed being shot and suffered no injuries. Chris Weiland said that after Lesh shot at Weiland's wife, he went into another room in his house to get a gun in case Lesh tried to come in. Weiland said that after he came back into the front room, he looked out the window and saw Lesh lying dead on his front porch.

Police believe Lesh stabbed Connie Popham, 59, in their residence down the street from Weiland's home shortly before knocking on Weiland's door.

Weiland's wife called the police after the shots were fired, and he said their response time was "excellent." Medical responders examined Weiland's wound and determined it wasn't life-threatening but recommended he go to the hospital. Weiland said he declined to do so.

Sgt. Bryan Slavik from the Great Falls Police Department, confirmed on Wednesday that it was a minor gunshot wound and that the Weiland declined further medical attention.

Reports on the number of victims injured in this stabbing-shooting have varied this week. Police first indicated there were three victims, including the two deceased. The next day officers said they could only confirm two victims, but that two other people had been shot at. They didn't know whether those two had been injured.

Detectives from the Great Falls Police Department said Wednesday that they still are investigating the apparent murder-suicide and were not prepared to make a statement. The GFPD is expected to release more details of the investigation later this week.

Weiland said he knew Popham and Lesh for about 3 1/2 years.

"It was horrifying," Weiland said. "We're extremely lucky."

Weiland said he and Lesh had a few confrontations in the past, some of which got physical, but the last one was more than a year ago. Weiland said he thought they had patched things up since then.

He said he did not know Popham very well, but said she was a friendly neighbor who was quick to give away vegetables from her garden and waved at them every time their paths crossed.

"She was a wonderful neighbor," Weiland said.