Man jailed on $1M following suspected weekend homicide in Bonner

A man was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing another man in Bonner on Friday.

Ronald J. Duggin, 44, is charged with one count of deliberate homicide. He appeared in court on Monday afternoon where Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway set his bail at $1,000,000.

At 7:27 p.m. on Friday, Missoula sheriff’s deputies got a report of a man who had been shot by handgun in Bonner. They responded to the 7000 block of Antelope Drive and found the victim, Jeremiah Marker, in distress in a tent. He sustained a gunshot wound in his abdomen, according to charging documents filed on Monday.

The victim’s partner told law enforcement Marker was shot by a man who was inside a trailer home, located on the same piece of property. Deputies tried to revive Marker on scene. He was transported to Providence St. Patrick Hospital, where he died, according to court documents.

A witness identified Duggin and said he shot Marker with a semi-automatic .22 handgun, charging documents state. Deputies briefly went into the house to check for weapons and found a handgun with a loaded magazine in plain view. Duggin was still at the house when deputies got there, according to the affidavit.

Duggin told investigators he was inside the house when he heard rustling noises and “thumps” from outside, near the tent where Marker was found. He reportedly saw a woman lying on her back with Marker kneeling over her.

“Ron believed Jay was hurting (the woman) or choking her,” the affidavit states. “He claims he told Jay to get off her then shot Jay with the gun.”

Duggin then went back into the house, unloaded his gun and told a woman he was with to call 911, he told investigators.

Deputies spoke with the woman who Duggin reported was being attacked. The woman, who was uninjured, said she and Marker weren’t fighting and she didn’t know why Duggin allegedly shot Marker, the affidavit states.

A deliberate homicide charge carries a possible maximum sentence of life in prison. The Office of Public Defender was appointed to Duggin’s case. According to Holloway, Duggin also has an active case out of Justice Court for allegedly littering on Fish, Wildlife and Parks property.

Duggin’s arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 4 in Missoula County District Court.

Zoë Buchli is the criminal justice reporter for the Missoulian.

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