Lodge Grass is a community on the Crow Reservation in Montana. Photo: Montanabw

Crow Tribe blames drugs and gangs for fatal shooting on reservation in Montana

The leader of the Crow Tribe is blaming drugs and gangs for a shooting that left three people dead and two others injured.

Chairman Alvin "A.J." Not Afraid Jr. offered the tribe's condolences for the deceased victims, identified by MTN News as Leslie Frank Nomee Jr, 27; Denise Stewart Nomee, 25; and Nehemiah Broken Rope, 30. They were killed on Friday in Lodge Grass, one of the communities on the Crow Reservation in Montana.

"The investigation, though ongoing, has already determined that the incident was related to methamphetamine and gang-related activity," Not Afraid said in a statement to the media on Saturday evening, The Billings Gazette reported.

The tribe instituted an emergency curfew on Friday after the shooting, which occurred in the afternoon, The Gazette reported. Authorities haven't publicly named a suspect but MTN News said a law enforcement alert was sent out on Monday which identified Roderick Plentyhawk, 32, as the suspect.

Read More on the Story:
Crow Tribe Chairman: Meth fueled deadly shooting in Lodge Grass (MTN News 8/5)
3 dead, 2 injured in Lodge Grass shooting; crime confirmed as drug-related (The Billings Gazette 8/5)
Suspect in Lodge Grass murders identified in BOLO Alert (MTN News 8/7)

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