Man arrested after shooting outside Idaho Falls bar
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IDAHO FALLS — Police arrested a man after he allegedly fired a gun at another person outside a bar Sunday night.
Connor Prucnal, 25, is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, around 2 a.m. Prucnal fired a single round at another man outside the Crown Bar on Shoup Avenue. The bullet didn’t hit him though, instead, the bullet struck a nearby vehicle.
Court documents give few details about the incident. Charging documents focused on the search for Prucnal after the alleged incident. However, Idaho Falls Police Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements shed some light on the alleged shooting.
About 10-minutes before the shooting, Clements explained Prucnal and another man were removed from the bar by a bouncer for fighting with another person.
“When they were removed one of the males made statements alleging they would be back with a gun,” Clements said.
Prucnal and his companion returned with a gun and allegedly fired the shot, however, the man who was shot at had not been involved in the fight that got him kicked out of the bar, officials said. It’s not clear what motive might have driven Prucnal to allegedly fire at that man.
Officials worked with bar staff to determine what happened at the bar. “We appreciate everyone at the Crown and their cooperation in this matter,” Clements said.
After the shooting, Prucnal left the scene and police began looking for Prucnal’s silver Honda CRV. Investigators knew he lived on Ammon Road and patrolled in that area looking for the suspect.
An officer spotted the CRV driving east on 17th Street towards Hitt Road. Officers caught up to the SUV near the intersection of 17th Street and Ammon Road.
When the car stopped in the Texaco gas station parking lot, Prucnal and the other man were detained. Both men allegedly smelled of alcohol and appeared inebriated, an officer wrote in his report.
In the car, police found a Glock 43 9mm handgun under the passenger seat and another Glock in a backpack with personal belongings of Prucnal. Officers also found a 9mm casing on the driver’s seat of the car, according to court documents.
The other man was not charged in the incident and thus EastIdahoNews.com is not identifying him.
Although Prucnal is charged with a crime it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon holds up to five years in prison.
Prucnal remains held in the Bonneville County Jail on $60,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 25.