Gun Toting Montana Man Under Fire for Behavior Near Elementary School
One Montana city is dealing with a concerning vision. That’s because a man who lives across from Broadwater Elementary School has been spotted patrolling his property with a gun.
KPAX-TV reports that Gabriel Metcalf has been walking around his home while holding a gun. The sight of the man so close to an elementary school is causing parents and school officials concern, especially since this isn’t the first time this has happened.
Officials told Montana Right Now that Metcalf was arrested in 2023 after someone called the police when they saw him carrying a firearm near the school. The school district met on Sept. 21 to discuss the situation and to see what they can do to prevent the children from getting worried.
So far, school staff has put a heavy black tarp up over the fence that separates the building from Metcalf’s property to try to block the view.
The Man Says He Is Exercising His Constitutional Rights
Metcalf sat down with a reporter from KPAX-TV to explain why he feels compelled to carry his gun around outside where it’s in clear sight of the elementary school. “I’m not hurting anyone, I’m on my own property, I’m not threatening anyone,” Metcalf told the reporter.
However, it’s about more than exercising his constitutional rights, which is one of the explanations he gave when pressed for his reasoning. The other has to do with his mother, who Metcalf says was assaulted in their home in February 2025.
His Mother Recalled How She Was Attacked
Vivian Metcalf also spoke with reporters, recalling how a woman threatened to kill her while assaulting her last year. “Then when she had me on the ground, she was screaming, ‘I’m going to kill you,'” his mother explained.
Metcalf says that the attack was further proof that someone needed to step up to protect the community, and he decided to take on the role.
Parents and Staff Are Concerned
Even with the news of an assault happening across from the elementary school, parents and staff say they are worried about the situation with Metcalf. In fact, Montana Right Now reports that it was the subject of a recent meeting with Billings School District 2 Superintendent Dr. Erwin Garcia. The outlet reports that the meeting included concerned parents, school board members, Billings police, and state legislators as well.
During the meeting, parents asked questions, like a father named Anthony who wanted to know why kids were being forced to give up their recess. “When should kids really not have a recess outside? Like maybe when it’s too cold in Montana, but not because there’s an armed gentleman outside, you know, exercising his rights; he can exercise elsewhere,” he said.
Past Encounters With Law Enforcement Are Also Concerning
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana shared a press release about a 2023 arrest, when Metcalf was caught within 1,000 feet of a school zone with a gun, which is a violation of the Gun-Free Schools Act.
“Almost one year ago, just as the school year was scheduled to begin, Broadwater Elementary School was busy taking proactive measures to protect kids from Metcalf and so were our law enforcement partners,” an Aug. 2, 2024 statement from U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. “Despite multiple attempts to explain to Metcalf that he was in violation of federal law, he continued his habit of armed patrols around his neighborhood and in a school zone. As we prepare for another year of school, the parents and children of Billings schools should know we will do whatever it takes to keep kids safe, as shown by our actions in this case.”
For now, the school is changing its pickup and drop-off protocols, in addition to covering the school’s fence with a tarp while officials try to figure out what they should do next to mitigate the concerns about Metcalf and his guns.
