Lake County man pleads guilty to mitigated deliberate homicide

A Lake County man pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to fatally shooting a man in Polson in a Christmas fight in 2024.

Elijah Cajune, 18, appeared before Judge Molly Owen in Lake County District Court with his young child in his lap to enter his change of plea on charges of mitigated deliberate homicide.

According to court filings, Cajune shot 31-year-old Pablo resident Sheldon Fisher in the abdomen early in the morning of Dec. 25, 2024, following an argument at a house party.

Fisher approached a house where Cajune was attending a party with several other people, and video footage from a neighbor showed him appearing to challenge one of the attendees to a fight. Cajune and several other people exited the house and chased Fisher. The footage then showed Cajune producing an object that appeared “consistent with a pistol” before leaving the camera’s view. Two gunshots were then heard, according to charging documents.

The nearby security footage picked up Cajune and several others fleeing the house, and several voices referenced Cajune having just shot someone.

When officers arrived, they were unable to find the gun used in the shooting, but found a .45 caliber round that seemed to have entered Fisher’s back and exited the front of his abdomen.

Witnesses interviewed said that the initial dispute between Fisher and one of the attendees was probably about a female romantic interest. According to charging documents, the group of people who chased after Fisher had earlier discussed “jumping” him when he arrived. One witness stated that Cajune was the one holding the gun.

Fisher was pronounced dead at 3:53 a.m., according to the charging documents.

As part of the plea agreement, the original charge of deliberate homicide was amended to mitigated deliberate homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years plus two to 10 years for using a firearm. Cajune stated that he caused the death of Fisher while under extreme emotional or mental stress.

Cajune’s sentencing hearing is set for July 15 at 9 a.m. in Lake County District Court.