Police search for gun used in killing

Idaho Falls police are searching for the weapon used in a New Year’s Day killing.

“During our investigation, police received information that the gun was disposed of on U.S. Interstate 15 between Idaho Falls and Blackfoot,” police said Friday.

Bonneville County and Bingham County search and rescue teams searched the area, but did not locate the gun. At the time, authorities did not confirm the evidence they were looking for was the weapon.

Police said somebody may have picked up the gun or seen it without knowing its significance.

Police said Kevin Michael Mcquilliams, 25, shot AnnaRae Ponce, 34, to death at a home in the 900 block of South Emerson around 1:30 a.m. Jan. 1.

Police said a fight broke out at a party in the home. During the fight, police said, Mcquilliams fired the gun, and a bullet struck and killed Ponce.

Later that day, Mcquilliams was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter in Truckee, California.

He is being held in California pending extradition to Idaho.

Anyone with information about a gun being found or who may have seen it on I-15 is asked to contact the Idaho Falls Police Department at (208) 529-1200 or Crimestoppers at 522-1983.