A 17-year-old has been charged with murder in the Christmas morning shooting death of 31-year-old Sheldon Fisher in Polson. 

Elijah Cajune's arraignment in district court was initially set for Jan. 8, but Judge Molly Owen continued the hearing to Jan. 29 to give the public defender’s office time to appoint counsel.

The current manager of the Office of Public Defenders, Sterling Laudon, left his position Jan. 10, and due to his departure, no one has yet been appointed to represent Cajune, who is charged with deliberate homicide.

Owen also set a transfer hearing for Jan. 29 to determine if the case should stay in district court or be transferred to youth court. Cajune has been released from custody pending court proceedings.

According to court records and reports from the Polson Police Department, at around 3:30 a.m., Dec. 25, law enforcement agencies responded to reports of shots fired near 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 and the Montana Highway Patrol arrived to find Sheldon Fisher dead from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Investigators obtained home security video that appears to show Fisher approach a nearby house, where a party involving drinking and many young adults was underway. The investigation revealed that Fisher got into an argument with one of five men over a romantic interest who may have been attending the house party.

Fisher appeared to be unarmed and challenged one of the young adults to a 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 ducked out of view from the camera, according to the charging documents. Two gunshots were heard, then three males, including Cajune, can be seen running back to the house hosting the party and back in view of the camera.

The video 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.

One of the males allegedly can be heard on the video saying, “Elijah shot a fool ...” and “Elijah shot Sheldon.” Several witnesses and Cajune allegedly are then seen getting into a Ford Expedition and leaving.

Investigators were unable to locate a weapon used in the shooting, but they did find a .45 round which appeared to have passed through Fisher and lodged in his sweatshirt. The officers were also able to identify and locate many of the witnesses seen in the video surveillance.