Missoula Police Department, Montana
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 27, 1976
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: January 27, 1976
Weapon Used: Officer's shotgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Donald Gregory was accidentally shot and killed when a shotgun being held by another officer accidentally discharged when it was knocked against a wall.
He and the other officer had responded to a home to investigate a disturbance and aggravated assault involving a firearm. One of the first responding officers located the suspect attempting to assemble a firearm in the basement of the home. As the officer ordered the man to turn around, the officer's shotgun slammed into the wall, causing it to discharge just as Sergeant Gregory came down the stairs to assist. The blast struck Sergeant Gregory in the head, killing him.
The suspect in the original case the officers were investigating was taken into custody on the original aggravated assault charge.
Sergeant Gregory had served with the Missoula Police Department for eight years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, father, and eight siblings.