" When was the last time you heard of a pot smoker getting stabbed over a 'bong pong' argument? "

" collan sheppard was not stabbed during the altercation, he broke into a house afterwards and got cut on glass. shepard sliced his abdomen from left to right and hit a main artery in stewarts arm, almost cutting the arm off. stewart did not have a weapon. this was a brutal act of violence on shepards part. "

" First of all these are two different nights and the night that our altercation happened I was merely trying to break up a fight. I'm not pleased with the poor reporting and the damper on my good name. Their is no link between a stabbing and a fight other then the fact that a beer pong game may or may not have been happening at the two seperate events. Events that are seperated by almost a year I might add. These reporters link things together on the tiniest of information base. The correlation of these two events is only based on a widely played game beerpong. Any college student knows that their are hundreds of beerpong games a night in missoula and probably hundereds of fights that occur around or during these games. I would like to think innocent until proven guilty but those of us whose names are carelessly plastered have to face punishment from peers and the community before a verdict is even made or a case even goes to trial. "

" Wow this is ridiculous! This is first hand proof to me that the media and reporters misconstrue so much of the actual facts, just to make their story sound better. First, I don’t think anyone appreciates how this was made more about beer pong than the stabbing. The argument was not over the rules at all. Brady wasn’t even playing, he was just a bystander. Collan was freaking out in a belligerent manner while playing beer pong, but no one was arguing back with him. They were only telling him to settle down, and Brady happened to be the first to tell him to shut up because it was just a game. The point is, if there was beer pong or not, Collan’s complete lack of sobriety would’ve led to a fight. Even before the stabbing he was being pugnacious towards a few other people, which could have just as easily led to a fight.
Also, I feel that not enough credit was given to Brady. Fights happen all the time and it doesn’t mean the fighters are bad people. Brady wasn’t being disrespectful by telling Collan to knock it off. And in no way was Collan using self defense. Collan was the one that suggested the fight.
This was truly the most horrific and traumatic event I’ve ever experienced and am disgusted that the facts were twisted into how “terrible” beer pong is. This should be about Brady almost losing his life, not beer pong. "

" What was a 19 year old doing at the party in the first place, especially playing beer pong? He obviously shouldn't have been there in the first place, being as he is underage. I believe that the charges should be dropped to self defense, the kid was probably being irresponsible and back talking over something that he isn't even old enough for. "

" Did you (previous commenter) not read this clearly? It was the man with the knife who initiated the fight. And ok, you probably shouldn’t be drinking if you’re 19, however, from Friday night to Saturday morning the cops issued 50+ mips. So obviously the kid wasn’t the only minor out and about. I don’t recall beer pong ever having an age requirement to it. There are times where people play just to shoot and make their partner drink; so if you’re a minor, you’re not in the wrong if you’re not drinking. As for claims of “self-defense,” who goes to a house party full of kids carrying a knife ready to fend off attacks? You would think a 23 year old would have more common sense, and realize a 19-year-old kid telling him to “shut up” and realize “it's only a game” is doing the right thing. I think if the 19 yr. old really posed a threat, the witnesses would come forth with that kind of information. However, it’s clearly unanimous among them that this act of violence was intentional and completely unprovoked. Maybe the 19 yr. old was a little irresponsible, but the fact of the matter is that a man of 23 should know how to be responsible with his alcohol consumption, and obviously, he was not. Someone should have taken responsibility of the situation and it should have been the older man, but he was the one committing the crime, almost killing the kid. "

" " since when is there an Age limit on attending a party?? Whoever wrote this must be sheltered!!! Who carries a knife on them first of all, and Uses it is a whole other REalm. Get real "

" Has anyone heard of a designated driver? Everyone is just assuming the 19 year old was drinking. Sounds like the 19 year old is lucky to be alive. People should not have a deadly weapon on them to start with. "

" So a person is stabbed and hospitalized and at the end of the article you go over the rules of beer bong. RIDICULOUS!!!! "

" Sinda is a boogerhead! "

" From what I know of Collan, and he was actually my best friend at one point, this kind of behavior seems incomprehensible.

Never would I have imagined myself in the future opening up a paper and finding the 2003 Browning High School Valedictorian (perfect 4.0 GPA) involved in a felony assault-D case.
When I was in high school a whole group of us were into weed and alcohol and we always tried to get this guy to use. Never once did he join us. After he came to UM we lost touch and he got involved with certain groups that are known for their drinking "skills".

Needless to say, I don't think this story tells the whole truth. I think there is a certain bias or two. I don't think this is a story about the dangers inherent in beer pong, nor do I think it is about some random act of violence. I think that this story is hinting at the possibility that we should be looking into the dangers of alcoholism. It is alcoholism that leads young adults into the destructive lifestyle they now live and ultimately it is alcohol that destroys the great potential they could have been. It only takes one night of over-intoxication to ruin your life. Most people could be really exceptional people when they're sober but it is this disease that enables them to commit the acts they do.

This should never have happened. "

" EnnV has a point. Unfortunately people will let alcohol ruin their life. It is truly sad that is what influenced the behavior. If the 19 year old would have died he would be facing worse charges than he is now. Hopefully he will get help for his alcohol problem, and not continue on with destructive behavior. "

" I think this horrible night is extremely tragic, but is even more tragic that the reporters are pputting so much emphsis on the fact that they were playing a drinking game.."beer pong" This could have happened regardless of what they wre playing, it the fact that Collan clearly has anger managment issues and can not control his liquor intake. I actually know this kid pretty well...when he live in the fraturnity and let me tell you this kid is troubled...i know of him pulling a knife out on his fellow bothers. So really this kind of behavior doesn't surprise me coming from him and seeing it first had. I am glad to hear that he is behind bars and will hopefully be there for a while and will be able to get help so he doesn't hurt any one else or him self for that matter. "

" I was at the party and the stabbing was related to earlier events in the day when Collan was playing frisbee with his dog blotter in the park. Brady was playing Hack-e-sac when Collans dog ran through and broke up the game. Brady upset yelled at Colland and his dog blotter and stated "keep your stinkey hippy dog our of my game bro". After the verbal altercation the two were reunited later that night at the party which led to the stabbing. There's always more to the story folks! "

" There is a big difference between a verbal argument and trying to stab someone to death. If Collan has such anger issues, he should never carry a weapon. It just makes it too easy to get in serious trouble. Hopefully he will get help and this will never happen again. "

" Just because Brady might have told Collan to keep his Stinkey Hippy dog out of the game doesn't make it ok that Collan stabbed Brady. And no normal person would ever even think about stabbing someone even if they are trashed. Let alone stabbing someone more then once and almost killing him. I think Collon should stay behind bars and think about what he did and get help! "

" Hey Banner, you sound like a racist... what do you have against hippies!? You're probably just jealous against people that can tightrope walk. If someone yelled at my dog, I'd probably stab them too. Or have my lawyer dad sue the hell out of them. WHOOO!! GO SOX! "

" JEDIDIAH, REALLY DUMB COMMENT "

" This was a brutal act of violence. If you are acting in self defense then fight with your fists not a weapon of any kind. "

" It's tragic that this event ever took place...Myself having been through a similar event as Collan, I know first hand how the facts can be twisted. I personally don't know Collan, but can emphasis with him. I was attacked at a party and defended myself resulting in the other person going to the hospital from a knife wound. All of the reports and people at the party quickly took the side of the "victim", their friend, and hung me out to dry. I was looking at 15 years until one brave person at the party came forward and testified against their friend. Had it not been for the bravery and integrity of that one individual I would be in jail today. So for all of you at the party I ask you to do the right thing and come forward with the truth if it will help an innocent man from rotting away in prison for something he did in defense of his life. I know it may seem like you are betraying a friend, but is it worth living the rest of your life knowing that you let a tragic event that never should have happened ruin Collan's life? "

" I was at the party, and I would come forward for Collan to help him, if there was anything to come forward for. He was belligerent. He was being aggressive toward one of the female owners of the house. Brady did step in, in her defense to get him to calm down. Collan asked Brady if he wanted to fight. When he walked over to Brady, and knife was out. People at the party tried to keep them, mainly Collan, apart. When they all come away from each other, Brady was against the wall spouting blood everywhere and holding his insides. It looked fake. I don't think there's any point from beginning to end that can be construed as self defense. It was traumatic, and horrible. Luckily there were three people helping Brady stay awake and alive until paramedics got there, otherwise he wouldn't be walking around today. "