Westhope Man Faces Murder Charge - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

A Westhope man was shot and killed last week and another Westhope man is facing a murder charge.

48-year-old Timothy Mundt is charged with Class Double-A Felony Murder in the shooting that happened last week.

He's accused of using a rifle to kill 40-year-old Jessie Kirk.

As of today, Sheriff's tape surrounds the home where the suspect, Tim Mundt, lives - just a half-block south of the Westhope School.

Officials aren't releasing details about the killing, but neighbors and friends we talked with said Kirk was last seen the night of Tuesday, February 5th.

They tell us his body wasn't found until the night of Thursday, February 7th.

Chuck Palmer says he knew both Kirk and the suspect Timothy Mundt well and is shocked at what happened. 

Chuck Palmer, Westhope Resident, "It was terribly shocking. I had seen Jessie that Tuesday afternoon. I didn't speak to him but I had seen him and then I was working and heard they couldn't find him - I heard that Thursday afternoon and then to get the news, I was just dumbfounded, I couldn't believe it."

Palmer said the Kirk family is a good-hearted group who do many things to help the community.

And he says the victim in the murder, Jessie Kirk, was no exception.

Chuck Palmer, Westhope Resident, "He did everything he could to help people and would expect very little in return. He was just a good, good hearted kid."

Timothy Mundt appeared in Northeast District Court Monday where Judge John McClintock set bond at 500-thousand dollars cash.

Mundt is being held in the Bottineau County Jail, awaiting his initial appearance which is scheduled for February 22nd.