Wanted murder suspect arrested in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS – A 48-year-old man accused of killing a man and injuring two others is behind bars after being arrested in Bonneville County.
Tony Sawyer is being held on $1 million bond in the Bonneville County Jail on charges of deliberate homicide and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide.
Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester told The Montana Standard that investigators tracked Sawyer’s cell phone and alerted detectives in Idaho Falls that he was in the area.
Bonneville County Sgt. Bryan Lovell tells EastIdahoNews.com Sawyer was arrested in downtown Idaho Falls Wednesday afternoon without incident.
Sawyer had fled the scene of the shooting near Butte Tuesday evening in a maroon 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage. Police believe he had arrived in Montana early this week from Texas, where he had an extensive criminal history.
Police say Sawyer was traveling with the three victims in a remote area of Montana when their vehicle became stuck in the snow. The men worked to free the vehicle and, once it was out of the snow, Sawyer allegedly started shooting at the other men. One man died and the other two were injured.
The Montana Standard reports Sawyer left the scene and drove to the home of an acquaintance where he took the Mirage and fled.
Lester told the newspaper the surviving victims are “in shock” and do not have any idea why the shooting happened.
Sawyer will be arraigned in Bonneville County Thursday afternoon where he will either waive or fight extradition back to Montana.
Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for the latest updates on this story.