Shooting Death At Swan Lake, 12-Year-Old Son Suspected
A shooting near Swan Lake has left a local man dead, and the sheriff’s department said the suspect is the victim’s 12-year-old son.
The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office said it received the 911 call of the shooting at 11 p.m. Friday night.
On US 91 south of Swan Lake, detectives found the body of 46-year-old Paul Danielson.
Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielson said investigators brought Danielson’s 12-year-old son to the sheriff’s office and during an interview, took him into custody.
The sheriff said there is still a lot left to do in the investigation. Detectives have been up all night, and as of this afternoon, the coroner was still at the scene and the body hadn’t yet been moved.
“We are still very early in the investigation of this. Obviously because of the nature of this we are handling this extremely sensitive and extremely thorough. But we wanted to let the public know that this has happened,? Sheriff Nielson said.
Nielson said he wants to head off any wild speculation or worry among those in the Swan Lake area.
“There were some rumors down south of a shooter running wild. We believe we feel fairly comfortable with the actions we’ve taken so far that we have the suspect in custody. However we are doing a thorough investigation,? Nielson said.
The Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office said the young boy will face charges for his father’s death.
“The 12-year-old juvenile has been taken to the Bannock County Juvenile Detention Center and he is being held on a homicide charge,? Chief Deputy Prosecutor Vic Pearson said.
But what those specific charges will be, is still uncertain.
Pearson said many more facts need to be uncovered before prosecutors can decide exactly what charges will be leveled at this preteen boy suspected of killing his own father.
“As we are so early in the investigation we need to get to a few more of the facts before we determine exactly what charges are going to be appropriate,? Pearson said.
The prosecutor’s office will also decide whether the suspect will be tried in the adult court system.
The sheriff’s office said it is too early to say anything as to what the motive for the suspected murder might have been.
Sheriff Nielson said an autopsy will likely be performed on Monday, and the prosecutor will determine what charges to file on Tuesday.
