7 hours Ago By SONNY TAPIA [email protected]
A Clancy man who fired five to 10 shots that wounded two juveniles late at night at a baseball field in Helena in 2023 received 10 years in the Montana State Prison. And Tuesday's sentencing hearing ended with a hug between Julien McKnight and one of the victims wounded that night who offered the shooter forgiveness. Julien McKnight, left, hugs a victim he shot during a 2023 incident after he was sentenced in Lewis and Clark County District Court on April 29, 2025.
McKnight, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, was sentenced in Lewis and Clark County District Court by Judge Christopher Abbott for two felony counts of assault with a weapon and felony tampering or fabricating physical evidence. Abbott gave McKnight 25 years with 15 suspended, but added he could be eligible for parole in 2 to 2 1/2 years. The 2023 wintery shooting took place near Ryan Fields in Helena over what Helena Police Department Detective Steven Cornish called "teen drama.
" The injured juveniles were 15 and 17. McKnight's convicted counterpart was Jonathan James Countryman, who was sentenced in February in Abbott's court. Countryman was given 10 years with eight suspended to the Montana Department of Corrections.
Julien McKnight, left, sits with his attorney Colin Delli Bovi while listening to testimony from a victim's family member in the gallery of Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott on April 29, 2025. McKnight was originally charged March 13, 2023, with two counts of felony attempted deliberate homicide and felony tampering or fabricating physical evidence. On Feb.
23, 2023, officers responded to 1 West Custer Ave. for a report of two males who were shot and transported to St. Peter's Hospital.
Court documents state seven people were involved in the incident and one of the victims was present in the courtroom for McKnight's sentencing Tuesday. The victim present suffered multiple gunshot wounds, one to the chin, one to the forearm and one to the shoulder. Lewis and Clark County Attorney Kevin Downs presented multiple exhibits including images of the victim lying in a hospital bed with a firearm hole in his chin.
Two marks were seen on his left shoulder, but officials said the bullet entered his shoulder and bounced back out. "The bullet went in his chin and out his eye," the victim's mother said to McKnight when talking about his gunshot wounds. "I forgive you.
I forgave you the day it happened because you were just a baby too." The male victim will struggle with lifelong damage to his body, limited mobility in his left arm and limited eyesight in his left eye. "I forgive you for everything, bro.
I hope you find God," the victim said. The altercation began after an argument ensued via SnapChat between two parties, court documents state. One of the other juveniles urged McKnight to retrieve a gun from his residence in Clancy.
The Mini 14 rifle was taken by McKnight from his adopted father. Helena police investigate the scene of a shooting at Ryan Fields in February 2023. When the vehicles with all seven of the members arrived at Ryan Fields on a night that was reported to be minus 30 degrees, some began hitting Countryman's vehicle with a tire iron, officials said during the hearing.
McKnight, who was in the backseat of Countryman's vehicle, held the gun's barrel near the headrest of the driver's seat and began firing when Countryman was being pulled out of the vehicle. Scott Swingley, a former law enforcement officer and private investigator, said it was not a targeted shooting. "He did not aim the rifle.
He is pointing and pulling the trigger," he said. When Swingley was cross-examined by Downs, he was asked how many magazines McKnight brought with him. Swingley said he brought three magazines that could hold a total of 55 rounds if they were full.
Jonathan James Countryman appears before Judge Christopher Abbott for a sentencing hearing on Feb. 21, 2025, related to a 2023 shooting at Ryan Fields. After the incident, everyone involved fled and Countryman and McKnight went to his Clancy home.
The two bagged their clothes and discussed playing video games, officials said. The following day, McKnight went to Great Divide and once he finished "one run" he was arrested, Cornish said. The detective believed McKnight was forthcoming and honest about his recollection of the incident.
Before Abbott delivered sentencing, McKnight addressed the gallery, which included his family and a victim's family. He apologized for his actions and knew what he did was wrong. The state recommended 30 years with 15 suspended in state prison.
"No one wins here, judge," Downs said. Abbott said he appreciated the statement from McKnight because he acknowledged the harm he caused and that it would be a lifelong struggle. Julien McKnight "The only reason we are not here on a homicide case is luck," Abbott said.
He listed things that "bothered" him about this case, including that McKnight did not call 911 after the incident – although he asked if the victims were OK when arrested – played video games and went skiing the following day. The judge said a difference between the Countryman case and this one was McKnight had multiple opportunities to not follow through with the shooting. Abbott ordered McKnight pay over $82,000 in restitution to the victims for medical expenses with his sentence.
The judge wished him the best of luck as McKnight cried along with the victim in the room. Before McKnight was taken to prison, he asked the judge if he could give the victim a hug. Abbott said that was up to victim.
The two hugged while crying before McKnight said his goodbyes to his family and was taken into custody. Editor's note: This story was updated to say McKnight received a 10-year sentence..
