Teen aiming to shoot pigeons causes high alert in downtown Idaho Falls

The Idaho Falls Police Department identified a 16-year-old boy as a suspected gunman that temporarily shut down the downtown area Wednesday night.

According to reports, officers received a call around 6:11 p.m. of an unidentified individual on the roof of Great Western Foods, located in the 500 block of North Eastern Avenue, with a rifle.

Officers immediately responded to the area and saw an individual with a confirmed
weapon.

Officers spent several minutes trying to get the individual to put the weapon down and leave the roof to talk with police.

However, the individual acted evasively despite making eye-contact several times with police.

Due to the evasiveness of the individual and that he had a weapon, officers put out a
CodeRed notification to residents in the area and shut down portions of the downtown area around the building to ensure public safety.

The IFPD and Bonneville County SWAT teams responded.

Police eventually identified the gunman as a 16-year-old boy that had been on the roof shooting pigeons.

He was in possession of a pellet rifle with a scope.