The man who died in the Aug. 30 home invasion at 60 Gibson Flats Road has been identified.

Sheriff Leo Dutton of Lewis and Clark County said on Sept. 5 that the deceased was Justin Cody Paul, 51, of Sand Coulee and the manner of death was suicide.

Dutton said that Cascade County Jesse Slaughter requested coroner assistance from Lewis and Clark County around 7 a.m. Aug. 30.

Two Lewis and Clark County deputy coroners responded and worked with a CCSO detective to determine cause and manner of death as well as identify the decedent, Dutton said.

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An autopsy was performed by the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula and determined Paul died by gunshot and the manner was suicide, Dutton said.

The Central Montana High Risk Unit had been deployed to the residence and upon making entry found a deceased male, Dutton said, and Slaughter had advised him no local law enforcement fire their weapons.

Dutton said the next of kin had been notified and his office as well as CCSO “extend our condolences to the family and friends.”

The incident that is considered an in-custody death, since HRU had a search warrant and arrest warrant for the suspect when they arrived on scene, Slaughter said in an Aug. 30 video at the scene.

As an in-custody death, a coroner’s inquest will be scheduled for the incident, according to Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki.

Since both CCSO and GFPD were involved in the incident, Slaughter said he requested the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Office were requested to investigate.

On Aug. 30, local law enforcement responded to a report of an active home invasion around 2:43 a.m. at 60 Gibson Flats Road.

CCSO made a mutual aid request for the Great Falls Police Department to respond, and both agencies were on scene.

The occupants of the home fled the scene, but Paul remained inside, according to Slaughter.

The occupants were safe and uninjured, Slaughter said.

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The Central Montana High Risk Unit, the regional unit comprised of CCSO and GFPD officers, was activated and responded to the scene.

Officers gave the suspect numerous commands to which he did not comply and over the course of the incident, several rounds were discharged from a firearm inside the residence and the suspect was found deceased inside the residence, Slaughter said in a Facebook live video on Aug. 30.

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According to police records, multiple reports had been made regarding Paul over the last year.

One call came in from Paul’s now ex-wife as a welfare check on May 14 since Paul was threatening suicide by cop, according to call logs.

Paul was believed to be driving toward Centerville Public Schools, prompting a lockdown at the school and significant law enforcement response.

No charges were filed in that incident.

Racki said it’s challenging for law enforcement is someone is threatening suicide because they can’t generally force an adult to go to the hospital.

There are legal options to commit someone if they’re suicidal, but that stops as soon as they say they’re no longer suicidal.

Racki said he does have an option in certain situations to order law enforcement to take a suicidal person to the hospital, but he can’t order the hospital to do anything once they arrive.

If you are in crisis and want help, call the Montana suicide and crisis lifeline 24/7 at 988. More resources are available here.