2 arrested, 1 wanted in Idaho Falls shooting incident
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - UPDATE 5/4/22: Idaho Falls Police released more information Wednesday afternoon regarding a shooting incident that took place Tuesday in Idaho Falls.
Police said three individuals were detained during the incident. First, the original driver of the vehicle John Geyer used in the pursuit. The driver was detained for a time but was ultimately released without charges.
Two people were located at the residence on 9th Street. 29-year-old Shae Gebert of Idaho Falls exited the residence soon after the Idaho Falls Police SWAT team arrived, announced their presence using a public announcement (PA) system and directed occupants to exit the residence.
Gebert was arrested on a felony Bonneville County Warrant and 9 misdemeanor Bonneville County warrants.
28-year-old Presley Peterson of Lewisville, Idaho, exited later in the incident after SWAT personnel deployed CS gas into the residence.
Peterson was arrested for two felony Bonneville County warrants and felony possession of a controlled substance and was taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
Police said John Geyer has not yet been located.
Idaho Falls Police Officers and assisting law enforcement agencies followed Geyer into Bingham County. When the pursuit approached the Shelley City limits, officers discontinued the pursuit due to concerns for the safety of motorists and people in the more populated city area. Idaho Falls Police Officers, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies, Shelley Police Officers, and Bingham County Sheriff’s Deputies searched the area where Geyer was last seen and found tracks that indicated the vehicle had driven through a front yard, into a backyard, over a ditch, and onto another property before coming to a stop inside a small shed on a property near the corner of S. Lincoln Ave and E Locust Street in Shelley.
Due to the location of the vehicle and other structures on the property, officers were not able to safely approach the vehicle to determine whether Geyer or anyone else was inside the vehicle. Due to the earlier incident involving a firearm and concern for the safety of all involved, Idaho Falls Police officers utilized a 40 millimeter less-lethal round to break a rear window on the vehicle to gain a visual into the vehicle safely. Officers also utilized a flashbang to create a distraction while approaching the vehicle.
Ultimately the vehicle was unoccupied. Law enforcement officers from the involved agencies searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate Geyer.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting incident or the location of Geyer is encouraged to contact the Idaho Falls Police Department at (208)529-1200 or to report the information to Bonneville County Idaho Falls Crime Stoppers. Information may be reported to Crime Stoppers anonymously. Tipsters that provide information through Crime Stoppers that leads to a successful arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
Police said the shooting incident remains under investigation. No injuries have been reported to law enforcement in connection to this incident at this time.
ORIGINAL 5/3/22: Three people were detained after reports of gunfire near an Idaho Falls elementary school.
Idaho Falls Police say, the incident started around 2 p.m, on Benton Street. This is near the intersection of 9th Street and St. Clair Road. A 9-1-1 call was made about gun shots fired on Benton Street.
Nearby Linden Park Elementary school was put into lockdown as responding officers closed several area streets.
IFPD Public Information Officer Jessica Clements says, "While the initial response was occurring, a vehicle was seen leaving the subject residence. Idaho Falls Police Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and detain the people inside pursuant to the investigation. The driver did stop the vehicle, exited, followed instructions from officers and was subsequently detained." The passenger of the vehicle, moved into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle. Idaho Falls Police Officers pursued the vehicle from 9th Street, through Idaho Falls and into Bonneville County, then Bingham County. The vehicle reached speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour. Idaho Falls Police Officers and assisting partner agencies discontinued the pursuit due to safety concerns as the vehicle approached the Shelley city limits.
Idaho Falls Police Officers, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies, Shelley Police Officers, and Bingham County Deputies assisted with a search for the vehicle. The vehicle was located however the suspect was not.
The suspect has been identified as John Geyer, a 25-year-old male resident of Ammon, Idaho. While it is not clear at this time if he is connected to the shooting that occurred on Benton Street, Mr. Geyer does have a current unrelated warrant for his arrest. Anyone with information about Mr. Geyer’s whereabouts is encouraged to report the information to police by calling dispatch at (208)529-1200. Information may also be reported to Bonneville County Idaho Falls Crime Stoppers at www.ifcrime.org. Information may be reported anonymously, and tipsters who report through Crime Stoppers with information that leads to a successful arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
Police were able to detain two people after a standoff at an Idaho Falls home on 9th Street. IFPD says, "The Idaho Falls Police SWAT team attempted to make contact with occupants of the subject residence. Occupants were given many verbal commands over a public address (PA) system announcing that the Idaho Falls Police department was outside and that occupants needed to exit the residence. One female exited the residence was detained at that time. Information was obtained that a second female was still hiding inside the residence and may be armed.
Over the next two hours, the Idaho Falls SWAT team continued to make announcements to any occupants of the residence directing them to exit. SWAT officers deployed a gas into the residence multiple times to encourage any occupants to exit. Eventually, the female exited the residence and was also detained. A Police K9 from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist with clearing the residence.
Idaho Falls Police Officers did not utilize any lethal munitions at any time during the incident. There were no injuries to police officers or to subjects during these operations.
IFPD said all students in Linden Park Elementary School were evacuated and able to get home safely.
The Idaho Falls Police Department would like to thank residents in the area and parents of children at Linden Elementary School for their patience and understanding throughout this incident. While there were exceptions, the vast majority of residents and community members in the area were very accommodating and understanding of the necessary impact to the area,
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.
