Elijah Cajune, accused of shooting dead a Polson man early Christmas morning in 2024, pleaded not guilty to one count of deliberate homicide.

Cajune, 18, who was arraigned in District Court in Polson on May 21, was afforded the opportunity to have his case transferred to youth court because he was 17 at the time of the alleged killing, but he waived the hearing.

At around 3:30 a.m. Dec. 25, authorities responded to reports of shots fired at 1002 Fourth St. W. and 408 11th Ave. W. in Polson. Polson Police officers, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead Tribal Police officers and Montana Highway Patrol troopers arrived to find Sheldon Fisher dead from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Investigators secured home security video that allegedly shows Fisher approach a nearby house, where a party was underway. The investigation revealed that Fisher got into an argument with one of the young men regarding a woman. Fisher, who appeared to be unarmed, allegedly challenged one of the young adults to fight. Four other males, including Cajune, chased Fisher.

Cajune allegedly removed an object, “consistent with a pistol, from his person,” as he gave chase and out of the camera’s view. Two gunshots were heard, then three males, including Cajune, can be seen running back to the house where the party was located and back in view of the camera, court documents said.

The video allegedly shows Cajune with both hands concealed in the front pocket area of his hooded sweatshirt. The other males’ hands are in plain sight and do not appear to be holding any objects consistent with a firearm, court documents said.

One of the males allegedly can be heard on the video saying, “Elijah shot a fool ...” and “Elijah shot Sheldon.” Witnesses and Cajune are seen getting into a Ford Expedition and leaving the scene, court documents said.

Investigators were unable to locate the gun used in the shooting, but they did find a .45 round which appeared to have passed through Fisher and stopped in his sweatshirt. Officers later identified and located many of the witnesses seen in the video surveillance.

Judge Molly Owen set the case for trial Nov. 3. Cajune is at liberty after posting $200,000, and is wearing a GPS monitoring device.