Investigation ongoing in fatal Pablo shooting

An investigation following a fatal incident in September is still ongoing, according to the county attorney.

Ryan Black, 28, allegedly shot and killed Johnny McKeever, 34, of Pablo on Saturday, Sept. 16.

“(There) appears to be a reasonable, justifiable use of self defense” used during the incident, Lake County Attorney Steven Eschenbacher said last Thursday.

On Monday, Sept. 18, Black was released from the Lake County Jail where he was held on a charge of deliberate homicide on his own recognizance.

Eschenbacher confirmed that Black was released on a condition he wear a GPS monitoring unit.

On Sept. 16, at 4:23 a.m. Lake County 911 receieved a call that a man had been shot at a residence south of Pablo on Old Highway 93, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded and determined that McKeever had been fatally shot by Black outside of Black’s residence.

McKeever’s remains were sent to the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula for autopsy.