Man Pistol Whipped in Missoula After Defending a Woman

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 6, 2026, at approximately 1:00 AM, Missoula Police Department officers responded to the Copper Run apartments on Great Northern Avenue for the report of an assault with a weapon. The complainant, John Doe, reported that another male, later identified as Ariel Pavon, pulled a gun on him and then hit him in the head with it. Doe was bleeding from the head. 

Doe and primary witnesses were Spanish speakers. Using a translation application, an officer learned from a witness that they were near the pool and Ariel became disrespectful towards a woman. Doe told Ariel not to be disrespectful. Ariel made a statement like “you don’t know who you’re dealing with” and “wait here.”  

Ariel left and returned with a gun. Ariel struck Doe in the head with the gun. Officers observed Doe bleeding from a laceration on his head. Doe said he had interjected between Ariel and a woman. Ariel then threw a bottle at him and told him to stay there and that he would be back in a few minutes. When Ariel returned, he had a small handgun in his hand. Doe challenged Ariel to drop the gun and fight him man to man. Then Ariel hit Doe on the head with the gun a single time before running off.  

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Officers identified the apartment that Ariel was in. A bilingual Detective gave verbal commands to exit over a PA system in both Spanish and English. The detective could see the blinds move in the apartment. Ariel instead exited through a back way trying to flee. He was apprehended at gunpoint.  

The detective read him Miranda rights in Spanish. Ariel admitted to being by the pool area earlier in the evening, but denied any altercation. Ariel was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. Ariel was visibly intoxicated and urinated in the back of a patrol car. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Ariel is currently being charged with felony assault with a weapon.  

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.