MISSOULA – The news director of a southwestern Montana television station was killed along with a family friend in a double murder and attempted suicide at her residence, KTMF station manager Tom Ciprari said Thursday.
The Missoula County coroner’s office identified the victims of the double homicide as Kalee Scolatti, 34, and Anthony Dupras, 46.
Missoula police were still investigating but said it appears the 36-year-old gunman came to Scolatti’s residence Wednesday evening and she called a family friend, Dupras.
Police spokesman Travis Welsh tells the Missoulian that initial evidence indicates that when Dupras arrived, the gunman shot Scolatti and Dupras, and then shot himself in the head.
A neighbor called 911 at about 6:40 p.m. to report hearing a woman screaming and then gunshots, Welsh said.
The shooter remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday, Welsh said, but his prognosis was unknown. He has not been identified, and it remains unclear what his relationship was with the victims.
Scolatti was the news director for ABC/FOX Montana and had been with the KTMF and KWYB stations for a decade.
“She will be remembered as a kind, passionate leader who always treated employees with respect,” Ciprari said in a statement. “Her smile would light up a room. Her laugh was contagious. Her compassion and intelligence motivated dozens of young co-workers over the course of a decade.
“Our hearts are broken — not just for Kalee’s work family, but also for Kalee’s three children, parents, brother and friends. She will be dearly missed,” he said.
Scolatti grew up in Missoula and graduated from the University of Montana’s School of Journalism in 2005.