Broken phone reportedly led to shooting and subsequent attempted murder charges
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AMERICAN FALLS — The woman accused of shooting a man outside an American Falls home reportedly told police it all started over a broken cellphone.
The American Falls Police Department arrived at the house on Falls Avenue around 3:20 a.m. Thursday after neighbors found a 29-year-old man shot and called authorities. According to charging documents, Stephanie Lynne Wasson, 26, Sabrina Dawn Wasson. 27, and Michael White, 36, were there when the 29-year-old was shot in the back and were allegedly responsible for the shooting.
When emergency responders arrived, they found the semi-conscious victim on the grass of his front yard, according to an affidavit of probable cause. An ambulance crew began treating him for the gunshot. While moaning in pain after being shot, the victim is reported to have told detectives Stephanie had shot him. An ambulance then rushed him to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.
As investigators looked around the scene, they spotted a single .380 shell casing in the street by the victim’s car.
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Detectives were able to determine that the Wassons, White and the victim were all at Rock Bottom Bar before the shooting. After leaving, the group went to Jacksons gas station where some sort of physical altercation began.
The fight eventually moved down the street to the front yard of the victim’s home, where he was eventually shot.
Authorities began searching for the suspects, and shortly after 4 a.m., an American Falls officer and Power County Sheriff’s deputy found Stephanie and White near a home on Idanha Avenue. The two were seen walking away from a shed on the property before authorities detained them for questioning.
Detectives spoke with Stephanie in the back of a patrol vehicle. According to the probable cause affidavit, during that conversation, she admitted to shooting the victim with a pistol at the man’s house. She claimed the fight broke out when the victim allegedly broke Sabrina’s phone.
Stephanie reportedly told investigators that Sabrina was inside the home on Idanha. When police checked the home, Sabrina refused to speak with investigators.
When investigators spoke with White, he said he carries a .380 pistol. When fighting with the victim, he said it probably fell off of him. After hearing a pop, the three suspects left the victim’s house to go to the home on Idanha. He also said they took the victim’s phone.
A family member of the Wassons allowed investigators to search the house on Idanha where police say they found the victim’s cell phone, car keys, and wallet. Inside the shed, investigators also uncovered a .380 handgun inside a red toolbox. Fresh footprints possibly belonging to White and Stephanie were also found inside the shed.
All three individuals were arrested. Stephanie Wasson is charged with attempted second-degree murder, robbery and concealment of evidence. Michael White, is charged as an accessory to attempted second-degree murder, robbery and concealment of evidence. Sabrina Wasson is charged as an accessory to attempted second-degree murder and robbery.
All three remain held in the Power County Jail. Sabrina’s case lists a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Although the three are charged with crimes, it does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The victim’s condition was not immediately available Friday morning.