“We heard a pop and thought it was a firework” neighbors describe yesterdays shooting in Pocatello
A Pocatello couple is still recovering from the shooting Tuesday on North 10th Avenue. The victims have been identified as Erica and Damien Farnsworth.
The alleyway that connects Fremont Street to Wyeth Street, parallel to 10th Avenue, is fairly quiet most days. Wednesday, however, was a different story.
At around 12:45 p.m., Damien and Erica were sitting in their car behind their home at 424 N. 10th Ave. That is when the suspected shooter Steven Holmes came up to their car and asked for a lighter. When the Farnsworths refused and told them to get off their property, he shot them at point-blank range. The gun was fired only once, hitting both Damien and Erica.
Taylor Villarreal, who lives next door, was at home with her 2-month-old daughter when she and her husband Tony and his cousin heard the gunshot.
“We heard a pop noise and we thought it was a firework,” Villarreal said. “My husband got up and looked out the back window and that’s when he noticed they had been shot.”
Without hesitation, the three ran outside and provided first aid before the ambulance and cops showed up.
“I grabbed some rags like, some dishcloths and I ran out and into their backyard,” Villarreal said.
Police arrived on scene approximately five minutes after they were called, according to Ray Corona, who lives three houses down from the incident.
“It’s something you would see in a bigger city, it’s just, like, it’s just not something you would think would happen literally and your, like, backyard,” Villarreal said.
Steven Holmes, the suspected shooter, was arraigned in the Bannock County Courthouse Wednesday via video monitor. He is being charged with two counts of aggravated battery, each of those is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Damien Farnsworth has been released from the hospital after being treated. However, Erica still remains in critical condition.
The motive for the shooting is still unknown.
Holmes is currently being held at a $500,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15.
