Suspect in Christmas Day shooting pleads not guilty

Elijah Cajune, accused of shooting and killing a Polson man early Christmas morning in 2024, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson May 21 to deliberate homicide. Cajune, 18, was afforded the opportunity to have his case transferred to youth court because he was 17 at the time of the alleged murder, but he waived the hearing.

According to court records and reports from the Polson Police Department, at around 3:30 a.m. Dec. 25, area law enforcement agencies responded to multiple reports of shots fired at 1002 4th Street West and 408 11th Ave. West in Polson. Polson Police officers, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Flathead Tribal Police and the Montana Highway Patrol arrived to find Sheldon Fisher dead from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Investigators were able to obtain home security video that appears to show Fisher approach a nearby house, where a party involving drinking and numerous young adults was underway. The investigation revealed that Fisher had a verbal argument with one of the young men regarding a female romantic interest who may have been attending the house party.

Fisher appeared to be unarmed and challenged one of the young adults to fight. Four other males, including Cajune, chased Fisher.

Cajune allegedly removed an object, “consistent with a pistol, from his person,” as he gave chase and out of the camera’s view, according to the charging documents. Two gunshots were heard, then three males, including Cajune, can be seen running back to the house where the party was located and back in view of the camera.

The video shows Cajune with both hands concealed in the front pocket area of his hooded sweatshirt. The other males’ hands are in plain sight and do not appear to be holding any objects consistent with a firearm.

One of the males can be heard on the video saying, “Elijah shot a fool ...” and “Elijah shot Sheldon.” Numerous witnesses and Cajune are seen getting into a Ford Expedition and fleeing the scene.

Law enforcement was unable to locate a weapon used in the shooting, but they did find a .45 round which appeared to have passed through Fisher and stopped in his sweatshirt. The officers were also able to identify and locate many of the witnesses seen in the video surveillance.

Judge Molly Owen set the case for trial Nov. 3. Cajune is at liberty after posting $200,000, and is wearing a GPS monitoring device.