POCATELLO, Idaho — The Bannock County Coroner’s Office has identified the man shot and killed by law enforcement officers following a deadly shooting incident on Tank Farm Road in Power County that left two people dead and two others injured.
Richard Todd Forrest, 63, of Pocatello, was identified Wednesday as the man shot and killed by police after he allegedly opened fire on multiple people in the area approximately one mile north of the Simplot plant. The identification came via a news release from Bannock County officials.
Timeline of a Deadly Afternoon
On Friday afternoon, emergency dispatchers received reports that three people had been shot along Tank Farm Road. Power County deputies arriving on scene discovered two victims deceased and one person injured. The two individuals killed were identified by the coroner’s office as Brandon Lee Madden, 40, and Amanda Ann Christian, 36, both of Pocatello.
The identity of the third person shot alongside Madden and Christian has not been released, though investigators said that individual was in stable condition at the hospital. A separate victim — a bystander on a boat on the Portneuf River — was also struck by gunfire from Forrest, according to the sheriff’s office. That person has since been released from the hospital, though their identity has not been made public.
Officers from multiple agencies responded to assist Power County deputies in locating the gunman, including Pocatello police and the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office. A police tactical team ultimately attempted to negotiate with Forrest before the situation escalated.
“The suspect made a lethal threat towards that team, and that team responded to this lethal threat. The suspect was deceased at that time,” Bannock County Sheriff Tony Manu said, describing the conclusion of the standoff.
Law Enforcement Calls Incident Unprecedented
Power County Sheriff Kasey Kendall, speaking at a press conference Friday, underscored the gravity of the event for the region.
“I would say that the nature of this incident today is unprecedented,” Sheriff Kendall said. “This is not something we typically deal with or handle on a routine or a regular basis.”
Kendall also asked for the community’s patience as investigators work through the details of the case. “At this stage, speculation only hinders the process,” he said. “We will provide a clear and factual account of the events as soon as it is responsible to do so.”
As of Wednesday, Power County authorities had not released a possible motive for the shootings, nor have they confirmed whether Forrest and the victims were known to one another.
Coroner Explains Delay in Releasing Suspect’s Name
Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner addressed the several-day delay between Friday’s incident and Wednesday’s release of Forrest’s identity, citing the need to notify family members before making the name public — a process complicated by the fact that next of kin resided out of state.
“Our office is committed to a standard of absolute accuracy and compassion,” Danner said in the statement. “When family resides out of state, the logistics of locating and notifying them personally become more complex, but it is a necessary step. Ensuring a family hears this news from a professional — not from a news headline or a social media post — is a matter of respect that we will not compromise on.”
The coroner’s remarks reflect the office’s standard practice of prioritizing family notification before public disclosure, regardless of the circumstances surrounding a death.
What Comes Next
The investigation into the Tank Farm Road shootings remains active and ongoing. Power County Sheriff’s Office has indicated that a full and factual account of events will be released as the investigation matures. The identity of the third initial shooting victim has not yet been publicly released by authorities. Residents in Bannock County and the broader Southeast Idaho region are encouraged to follow updates from official law enforcement channels. For statewide coverage of this developing story, visit Idaho News and Idaho News Network.