OROFINO - A weekend argument turned fatal for an Orofino man.

The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office says deputies shot and killed 36-year-old Jeremy S. Leech when they entered his home just before midnight Friday night.

The shooting took place after a report of neighbors arguing near 142nd Street in Orofino. The Sheriff's Office said a man, identified as Leech, was threatening a neighbor and another witness with a rifle just before 8:00 p.m.

"The original contact started over the neighbors fighting over dogs, and dogs running around the neighborhood,” said Clearwater County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Chris Goetz. “They went to talk to Leech, and Leech pointed a weapon at them. The deputies responded out there and talked to both of the victims and tried to talk to Leech, and they knocked on his door several times and got no answer."

About 4 hours after the initial report, Goetz said a search warrant was issued to recover the rifle the Leech had in his possession.

"As soon as they got in through the door, one of the deputies turned to the left, where they were confronted with Mr. Leech,” he said. “He had a weapon in his hands, and he raised the weapon towards the officers. Before he raised it, they told him to drop the weapon and he wouldn't drop the weapon, he raised it toward them. One officer fired several rounds into Mr. Leech."

Goetz said the deputies did what they had to do.

"If they would not have acted as fast as they had, I feel one or more of our deputies would have been shot by Mr. Leech,” he said.

No arrests have been in connection with this case.

Some neighbors of Jeremy Leech aren't happy with the Sheriff's Office. Those close to Leech say they think the actions of the deputies were unnecessary.

Matthew Roberts is one person who thinks Leech should still be alive.

"They should have, at least, called one of his friends or his neighbors to try to talk him out of it,” said Roberts, an Orofino Resident. “They didn't need to go in and shoot him. They could have tazed him, tear gassed him or something."

Some neighbors, who didn't want to be identified, say Leech was a heavy sleeper and an alcoholic, and may not have known fully what was going on that night. They also say the dispute that sparked the incident was not isolated to this weekend, but had been going on for more than a month. Those close to Leech say something could have been done to diffuse the situation much sooner.

"I'm sad about this, because this thing got carried away too long,” said Roberts.

Now, some friends and neighbors have put up a cross in memory of Leech. That sits in front of the home where Leech was shot by Clearwater County Sheriff's Deputies.

"I'll never forget this,” said Roberts. “I don't think anybody else will, too."