Bellingham Native Ryan Terpsma Killed in the Line of Duty on 28th Birthday

The flags across Montana are flying at half-staff this week following a violent sequence of events in Eureka that claimed the life of a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy on his birthday, according to reporting by KIRO 7 News Seattle and Hoodline.

Ryan Terpsma, a 28-year-old Bellingham native and Squalicum High School graduate, was killed in the line of duty on October 30 while responding to what began as a disturbance call at 118 Lone Pine Trail near Eureka. What started as an evening response escalated into a shootout and a pursuit that left two people dead at the scene, including a 46-year-old woman.

A Birthday Watch Cut Short on Lone Pine Trail

The call came in at 8:23 p.m. on October 30, bringing deputies and local police to the property near Eureka. According to court filings cited by the Daily Inter Lake, Terpsma and a Eureka police officer identified as Steed were shot upon arrival at the initial location. Officer Steed was shot twice in the back, but his body armor stopped the bullets, leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries.

Terpsma died at the scene while the other officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries. While the Flathead Beacon reported that he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after officers arrived, the Bellingham Herald noted that he later died at a hospital.

Bellingham native killed on birthday as montana deputy suspect dies in custody — Photo: hoodline.com

Investigators at the scene discovered that a 46-year-old woman, identified in court filings as Merrisa Walker (the Bellingham Herald spells her name Merissa Walker), was found fatally shot in a vehicle at the scene.

The Pursuit and the Suspect’s Death in Custody

Following the initial gunfire, the suspect fled the scene, taking a 7-year-old girl with him. During the subsequent pursuit, the driver fired shots at two patrol vehicles before officers brought the flight to an end at a roadblock.

Montana deputy from Bellingham killed in the line of duty

Accounts regarding the child varied slightly across local reporting. The Bellingham Herald reported that the 7-year-old girl was injured at the original scene and later treated and released, while KPAX reported that the 7-year-old girl in the suspect’s vehicle was uninjured.

The man accused of the shootings was identified as 50-year-old Matthew David Dye (spelled Mathew David Dye in some reports). Prosecutors charged Dye with two felony counts of deliberate homicide and a third felony count of attempted deliberate homicide, according to the Flathead Beacon.

On November 4, Dye experienced a medical emergency in his jail cell and was pronounced dead at Providence St. Patrick Hospital. The Bellingham Herald reported that Dye’s official cause of death remains under investigation.

Family Remembers Fallen Deputy as Dedicated Public Servant

Terpsma’s family remembered him as a dedicated public servant who had pursued a lifelong dream of becoming a deputy sheriff. They noted that he served with immense pride, integrity, bravery, and joy.

“Ryan gave his life in the line of duty as a Lincoln County (Montana) Sheriff’s Deputy on what was his 28th Birthday, October 30th. While our hearts are shattered by his sudden and unexpected absence, we take comfort in knowing that Ryan died doing what he loved, serving the community he cared for so deeply.”

To assist the family with funeral costs and related expenses, the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association established the Deputy Ryan Terpsma Memorial Fund. Public donations are being collected through December 31. A celebration of life is currently being planned in Bellingham.