A late-night fight spilling out of a downtown Bozeman bar ended in gunfire and a 29-year-old man’s death, sending shockwaves through a busy nightlife district where witnesses say dozens were nearby when shots rang out. The suspect, a 22-year-old local man, is now jailed on multiple felony charges as prosecutors begin building their case.
BOZEMAN, MT – Jakob Steven Lundberg, 22, is charged with deliberate homicide, criminal endangerment, and tampering with evidence in the killing of Sidney Callaghan, 29, following an early morning altercation Sunday outside the Rocking R Bar, according to the Bozeman Police Department.
Investigators say the confrontation began inside the bar before staff intervened and escorted both men outside. The dispute continued on the street, where police allege Lundberg retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and returned to the scene.
Sequence of events outlined in affidavit
According to a sworn affidavit cited by local media, Lundberg approached Callaghan and raised the weapon in a defined stance before firing. “(Lundberg) pushes out his hands in an ‘isosceles’ shooting stance and aims a handgun at Callaghan,” Bozeman Police Detective Kyle Hodges wrote. “Lundberg lowers his weapon, walks closer to Callaghan and raises the firearm again. He shoots Callaghan and Callaghan falls to the ground.”
Police say Lundberg then left the area in a red Subaru WRX shortly before 1 a.m. Officers arriving on scene attempted life-saving measures before the victim was transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “Our officers arrived on scene, began life-saving measures on the individual,” a department spokesperson told NBC Montana. “Tragically, they were transported to local hospital and…determined to be deceased.”
Authorities later located Lundberg near a Walmart after witnesses provided a description of his vehicle. Charging documents indicate he contacted his father after the shooting and said, “I shot somebody.”
Weapon recovered, investigation ongoing
Investigators allege Lundberg told officers he discarded the firearm near a white van out of concern it could pose a risk during a Memorial Day parade. Police later recovered the weapon with the help of a trained detection dog. “We have a canine, Copper is her name, she’s trained to detect like firearms and explosives and anything that falls kind of under that purview,” the spokesperson said. “And, so utilizing her, we were able to locate what we suspect to believe the weapon that was used in the incident.”
Authorities say surveillance footage shows the shooting occurred in a crowded area with multiple bystanders, including nearby patrons and pedestrians. Court documents state Lundberg made limited comments to investigators, aside from “spontaneous statements about regretting what he had done.”
Lundberg made an initial court appearance earlier this week, where a judge set his bond at $1.5 million. Prosecutors say the case remains in its early stages and additional filings are expected.
“Violence of this magnitude in the heart of our community is devastating,” Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell said. “Our office will continue working closely with law enforcement to ensure a thorough review of the evidence and to seek justice for Sidney.”
Lundberg remains in custody at the Gallatin County Detention Facility.