Victims, perpetrator identified in fatal East Glacier shooting

Traci Rosenbaum, Great Falls Tribune
·3 min read
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The community of East Glacier experienced a tragedy on Sunday after a man killed two people and wounded two more before being killed by one of his victims.
The community of East Glacier experienced a tragedy on Sunday after a man killed two people and wounded two more before being killed by one of his victims.

Authorities have released more information, including the identities, of the three people killed and two injured in a shooting on Sunday in East Glacier.

According to a news release from the Glacier County Sheriff's Office, the deceased are as follows: 39-year-old David Siau of Syracuse, New York; 18-month-old McKenzie Siau; and the perpetrator, 37-year-old Derick Amos Madden of Goldsby, Oklahoma.

Christy Siau, 40, is David Siau's wife, and Christina Siau, 30, is his sister. Both were wounded in the attack and had to be life-flighted for a higher level of care.

The release states that Madden was in a prior relationship with Christina Siau and was suffering from mental health issues. At around 9 p.m., he reportedly drove a Toyota Tacoma into the group of people as they walked beside the road, crashing into a tree.

The Montana Highway Patrol was trying to determine the exact speed Madden was driving when he hit the family. Capt. Tom Seifert with the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office described it to the Associated Press as faster than the posted speed limit, which he said was at least 25 miles per hour.

Madden then exited the vehicle with a shotgun and began firing, killing David Siau at the scene and continuing to shoot at the fleeing women. He wounded Christy Siau and mortally wounded McKenzie, who was being held by Christy, her mother. McKenzie later died at the hospital.

David Siau, left, was killed in Sunday's shooting. Christy Siau, right, was wounded. The couple's daughter, McKenzie (held by Christy) was also killed.
David Siau, left, was killed in Sunday's shooting. Christy Siau, right, was wounded. The couple's daughter, McKenzie (held by Christy) was also killed.

Madden then reportedly ran out of ammunition and attacked Christina Siau with a knife. During the attack, Christina fought back, fatally wounding Madden, who died at the scene. Authorities did not say how Madden was killed.

"She fought back and she won," Seifert told AP.

Due to Christy Siau's injuries, investigators have been unable to interview her about what happened, Seifert said.

In addition to the killed and wounded victims, two minor children were at the scene but were able to flee without being injured.

Bystanders in the area witnessed the attack and reported it to authorities, Seifert told AP. He added that police responded to the scene within minutes, but the attack already was over.

Authorities have not said if Madden had the shotgun legally.

"This investigation continues, and detectives are working tirelessly to find all the details and circumstances surrounding this horrific event," the release stated.

Local authorities did not know of any previous interactions that Madden had with law enforcement. He had been working in East Glacier Park, a town of about 300 year-round residents bordering Glacier National Park that gets throngs of summer tourists.

Christina Siau had been living in East Glacier Park. Her brother and his family had been visiting her on vacation, Seifert said.

A co-worker of David Saiu described him to AP as “a great person, a great friend .... (and) a great dad, definitely loving with his three kids.”

“They just loved to do activities with them outdoors, even just fun simple things, like weekend and day trips,” said Peter Depuy, a bookkeeper for a Syracuse audio products company, Benchmark. David Saiu was the production manager at the 13-employee company and first started work there more than two decades ago when he was a teenager, Depuy told AP.

Christy Siau was a former bookkeeper for the American Baptist Churches of New York State, according to social media postings by the organization. She was described as “a long time and beloved member” of the organization's staff in a statement from Executive Minister Rev. James Kelsey.

Christy and David Siau were also active in the First Baptist Church of Hoosick Falls, New York, Kelsey said.

The Glacier County Sheriff's Office, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, National Park Service Rangers, the Montana Highway Patrol, the FBI, Blackfeet EMS, Glacier Park Lodge Security and East Glacier Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene.

A GoFundMe has been set up to contribute to the medical bills of Christy and Christina Siau. It has been verified by GoFundMe and can be found at https://gf.me/v/c/ql5g/siau-family-fund.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Victims, perpetrator ID'd in fatal East Glacier shooting