Critically Injured Man and Unnamed Respectful Resident Suffer Life-Altering Gunfire Wounds in Deliberate Pre-Dawn Southside Apartment Shooting; Charlotte Andrade, 20, Taken Into Custody as Identified Suspect in Calculated Great Falls Incident

GREAT FALLS, MT — June 9, 2025 — What should have been a quiet Sunday morning for residents of a Southside Great Falls apartment complex instead erupted into violence and fear, leaving one man clinging to life and another — described by neighbors as quiet, respectful, and peaceful — suffering a fatal gunshot wound inside a residential unit. Now, Charlotte Andrade, a 20-year-old local woman, has been taken into custody by Great Falls Police Department (GFPD) officials and is facing serious criminal charges in what authorities describe as a targeted, premeditated shooting.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of June 9 at the El Comandante Apartments, a residential complex located at 1801 10th Avenue South. According to statements released by GFPD, dispatchers began receiving frantic 911 calls at approximately 3:42 a.m., with residents reporting loud noises, commotion in the hallways, and disturbing, forceful banging on doors. One of the first calls came from a resident of Unit 11, who informed police that unidentified individuals were aggressively knocking on his door in the middle of the night, creating an atmosphere of confusion and alarm.

Timeline of Events: From Disturbance to Violence in Minutes

By the time officers arrived on the scene, less than ten minutes after the first call, the situation had escalated. According to police records, officers entered one of the apartments to find two male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency responders from Great Falls Emergency Services (GFES) were immediately dispatched, and lifesaving measures were initiated on both victims.

One of the men — described by neighbors as soft-spoken and respectful, but whose name has not been released at the time of this report — had sustained injuries incompatible with life. The second man, whose name also remains unreleased, had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported in critical condition to Benefis Health System, where he underwent emergency surgery and remains under intensive care.

Alleged Shooter Identified: Charlotte Andrade in Custody

Charlotte Andrade, 20, was quickly identified as a suspect in what GFPD is now calling a calculated and targeted act of violence. Based on witness interviews, surveillance footage, and other evidence collected at the scene, Andrade was apprehended without resistance later Sunday morning. She was taken into custody and booked at the Cascade County Detention Center. Formal charges are expected to be announced in the coming days, though investigators have indicated they may include multiple counts related to assault with a firearm and intentional use of deadly force.

According to GFPD Detective James Lorring, the preliminary evidence suggests this was not a spontaneous outburst but rather a deliberate action directed at the individuals in the apartment.

“This was not a random act. We have clear indications that the victims were specifically targeted,” Lorring told local reporters during a Sunday afternoon press briefing. “The shooter knew who she was there to confront, and the encounter turned violent very quickly.”

Scene Investigation: Spent Casings, Ballistic Evidence, and Surveillance Footage

The scene inside the El Comandante Apartments remained active for most of Sunday as crime scene investigators worked meticulously to gather evidence. Neighbors reported seeing law enforcement officers marking shell casings, photographing footprints, and removing several items from the apartment as evidence.

A firearm, believed to be the weapon used during the shooting, was recovered at the scene and is currently undergoing ballistic testing. Forensic experts noted the presence of multiple entry and exit wounds in the walls, confirming that several shots were fired within the close quarters of the apartment. A spent magazine was recovered nearby.

GFPD confirmed that apartment complex surveillance footage is being analyzed as part of the investigation. Early review of the footage reportedly shows Andrade entering the complex shortly before the shooting and leaving just minutes afterward.

Victim Descriptions: A Quiet Life Disrupted by Tragedy

While authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims, neighbors and building residents have begun to speak about those affected. The man who did not survive the incident was described by multiple residents as “respectful,” “quiet,” and “never one to cause trouble.”

“He was one of those people who always nodded in the hallway, always kept to himself. You never heard a party, never any yelling from his unit,” said Angela Burns, a third-floor resident who has lived in the complex for over five years. “To hear he was hurt like this, it’s heartbreaking.”

The critically injured man is believed to be in his early 20s, and while few details have emerged about his identity, sources suggest he may have been a friend or acquaintance of the deceased victim.

Community Reaction: Fear, Confusion, and Calls for Security

The El Comandante Apartments, while located in a historically quieter part of the city, have seen a rise in disturbances over the past year, according to residents. Sunday’s shooting has reignited concerns about safety and the apparent lack of overnight security.

“We’ve been asking for better lighting and more patrols for months,” said Elijah Martinez, who lives across the hall from the unit where the shooting occurred. “We’re not saying