Kalispell shooting suspect charged

A Kalispell man has been arrested in connection with a Valentine’s Day shooting that injured another man.

Anthony Paul Johnson, 64, was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center on Feb. 14 on charges of felony assault with a weapon.

According to charging documents, the shooting victim, James Johnson, had asked a resident on 6th Avenue West in Kalispell about borrowing some tools. The homeowner refused and asked Anthony, her tenant, to help remove James from the property.

Anthony allegedly approached James in an alley behind the home and pointed a weapon at him.

Charging documents allege that James reportedly said something to the effect of “go ahead and shoot me, you’ll go to prison,” to which Anthony replied, “I don’t care.”

Anthony then allegedly fired his weapon.

James later went to the Kalispell Police Department to report the assault. Officers reportedly observed a bullet hole in James’ pants and a bleeding wound on his hip.

When officers spoke with Anthony he allegedly corroborated “much of James’ account,” documents state.

If convicted, Anthony faces up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.