Reservation Rampage: 12 Years for Gunman

⏱ 3 min read

LAME DEER, MT – Caleb Raymond Carter, 40, is headed to federal prison for a decade and a half after ambushing two Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officers on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The May 2, 2025, shooting stemmed from a late-night disturbance call and quickly turned into a firefight. Carter received a 150-month sentence from U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer, following a December 2025 trial.

It began with a 911 call from a woman fearing for her mother’s safety, reporting Carter was yelling and seemingly drunk. BIA Officer John Doe 1 initially responded, finding the situation defused. Hours later, the same woman called again, stating Carter was back at it, possibly armed. Doe 1 and another officer, Doe 2, returned to the property, lights flashing on their patrol vehicles.

As Doe 1 spoke to the caller’s brother, a single gunshot cracked the night air. Both officers immediately recognized they were under attack, drawing their weapons and taking cover. Carter had opened fire from a camper trailer, the origin of the shots. The officers weren’t hit, but the message was clear: Carter was willing to use deadly force.

A jury convicted Carter on two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation has seen its share of trouble, but this direct attack on law enforcement carries a hefty price. Carter will also face three years of supervised release following his 12-year sentence.