BILLINGS - Billings police are investigating a suspected Friday night homicide on the South Side.
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Officers discovered the body of a 51-year-old man just after 10 p.m. in the alley near the intersection of Adams Street and Roosevelt Avenue, police wrote on social media.
The man appeared to have suffered both stab wounds and blunt-force injuries, according to police.
The victim was not identified, and police are continuing to investigate.
The incident, which unfolded behind several nearby homes and not far from Riverside Middle School, raised alarm and left many residents feeling unsafe and deeply unsettled.
“I'm very afraid to live here,” said Jane Bangart, who lives in the area. “It's really frightening. I don't walk around here at all. I stay in my house, keep the door locked.”
Another resident, who only gave his name as Shane for safety reasons, said he heard violent commotion shortly before police arrived.
“I heard some arguing, and about a minute later, I heard a gunshot, or what I thought was a gunshot," said Shane. "They had everything, all the corners blocked off down there, so you couldn't drive by, and they had a lot of people out here.”
For many, the crime has heightened concerns regarding neighborhood safety, particularly in areas like the South Side that some residents feel are neglected.
“It's scary," said Shane. "It's not even 500 feet from (our) front door."
Kristin Snider, another Billings resident, said she has become increasingly cautious in recent years, voicing concerns about walking in certain areas, especially alleyways.
“Pretty much anywhere you just have to be aware of your surroundings more than you used to," said Snider. "We used to just go everywhere and not think about it twice, but now you kind of just have to.”
Snider believes more should be done to support public safety efforts in Billings and suggests local funding measures, like safety levies, could help law enforcement better address rising crime.
“They just need more help, and I think that would help some of the stuff that's going on," said Snider. “Everybody needs to be protected, no matter where you live."
