Parents and staff at Broadwater Elementary in Billings, Montana, are alarmed after neighbor Gabriel Metcalf was repeatedly seen patrolling his property while armed. Metcalf says he is protecting the neighborhood after an assault on his mother in February 2025, and he asserts he is on his own property. Authorities say Metcalf was arrested in 2023 for being within 1,000 feet of a school with a firearm, violating the Gun-Free Schools Act. The district has covered a fence with a tarp and adjusted pickup/drop-off routines while officials consider longer-term steps.
Armed Neighbor Across From Billings Elementary Prompts Safety Measures and Community Concern
Image Credit: KPAX-TV / Facebook.
Parents and staff near Broadwater Elementary School in Billings, Montana, are raising concerns after a neighbor, Gabriel Metcalf, was repeatedly seen patrolling his property while visibly carrying a firearm. The proximity of these armed patrols to a school has prompted changes to school routines and a review by local and federal officials.
What Happened
Local station KPAX-TV and Montana Right Now report that Metcalf has walked his yard with a gun in plain sight. He was arrested in 2023 after a caller reported seeing him with a firearm within 1,000 feet of the school, an action federal authorities say violates the Gun-Free Schools Act.
Community Response
School leaders and parents convened a Sept. 21 meeting with Billings School District 2 Superintendent Dr. Erwin Garcia, school board members, Billings police and state legislators to discuss next steps. Concerned parents say the visible presence of a firearm so close to campus has caused students and staff distress; the district temporarily covered the fence separating the properties with a heavy black tarp and changed pickup and drop-off procedures.
Legal Context
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana released a statement recalling Metcalf's 2023 arrest for being within a school zone with a firearm. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said local schools and law enforcement took "proactive measures to protect kids from Metcalf" and reiterated that authorities would enforce federal law to keep students safe.
Metcalf's Explanation
Metcalf told KPAX-TV he was on his own property and not threatening anyone:
"I'm not hurting anyone, I'm on my own property, I'm not threatening anyone."He said his actions were partly an exercise of his constitutional rights and partly motivated by a personal incident: his mother, Vivian Metcalf, says she was assaulted in their home in February 2025 and threatened during the attack. Metcalf has said he armed himself afterward because he believed someone needed to protect the neighborhood.
Next Steps
District officials are weighing longer-term responses while continuing temporary measures designed to limit student exposure to the armed patrols. Law enforcement and school leaders remain involved as parents and community members press for solutions that balance legal rights with student safety.
Note: The facts in this article are based on reporting by KPAX-TV and Montana Right Now and statements from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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