Police searched into the night to find a man who shot and killed a Montana Highway Patrol officer, only to find him dead in his truck late Wednesday, the Gallatin County Sheriff said.

David DeLaittre, a 23-year-old Montana Highway Patrol trooper, was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon during a traffic stop near Three Forks, and more than 100 law enforcement officials from across the state assisted in the search.

The Gallatin County Sheriff's office identified the suspected shooter as 56-year-old Errol Brent Bouldin of Three Forks. Officers found a pickup truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the Crow Creek area near Radersburg in Broadwater County at around 8:30 p.m. Bouldin was found dead in the vehicle.

Montana Department of Justice spokeswoman Judy Beck said DeLaittre was sworn in with the patrol in November 2008.

DeLaittre was initially stationed in the Chinook area before he transferred to Bozeman in April of this year. His page on the social networking website Facebook says his hometown is Three Forks.

Another press conference will likely be held Thursday, Cashell said Wednesday night.