Livingston, Montana – In a high-profile case that drew attention across Montana, a 33-year-old Livingston man has been sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for a deadly shooting in 2022. Attorney General Austin Knudsen confirmed the sentence this week, noting that Skyler Griebel will serve life at the Montana State Prison after being found guilty of deliberate homicide.
The incident unfolded in February 2022, when Griebel allegedly began threatening his girlfriend with a firearm. In fear for her life, the woman reached out to her ex-boyfriend, Tyler Netto, for help. According to authorities, once Netto arrived at the residence, Griebel confronted him at gunpoint. Netto attempted to retreat into another room and called law enforcement for assistance. As he tried to flee the house, deploying pepper spray along the way, Griebel shot and killed him.
Following the shooting, Griebel fled the scene. When later questioned by authorities, he initially denied having any knowledge of a shooting. However, during the trial, he admitted to firing the weapon but attempted to argue that it was done in self-defense and that he was not the initial aggressor. The jury did not accept his claim and returned a guilty verdict after a nine-day trial and just two hours of deliberation.
Check also: Baker welcomes outdoor enthusiasts with a full spectrum of recreation and gateway attractions
Griebel’s legal team sought leniency, asking the court for an exception to the mandatory minimum of 10 years. That request was denied. “The Court rejected that argument and agreed with the life sentence recommendation from the Attorney General’s Office,” officials stated.
The case was prosecuted by Thorin Geist and Stephanie Robles of the Attorney General’s Office. The investigation involved the Park County Sheriff’s Office, with key support from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Belgrade Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
The life sentence serves as a resolute message, officials say, reinforcing the gravity of taking a life and the legal consequences that follow.
