Some new details emerge in Payette County shooting
By Argus Observer staff
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 11:25 AM PDT
Parma — Payette County officials have positively identified the man who was shot and killed Monday morning in a gun battle in the southern portion of Payette County.
Officials said Tuesday afternoon Rolando Lizarraga Beltran, age and hometown unknown, was declared dead at the scene inside a rural Payette County home when police arrived.
“We can’t confirm or deny that’s his real name, but we’re going to go ahead and use that,” Payette County Sheriff Chad Huff said. Huff added, the people inside the home are all Mexican nationals, but it is not known if they are in the country illegally or not.
Another victim, a person police are calling Albaro Martinez, age and hometown unknown, is still in critical condition at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, with life-threatening injuries. His present condition is unknown.
Beltran’s brother, Edgar Lizarraga, who has been providing police with much of the information about the victims, was determined to have an active warrant out of Canyon County and is in jail.
“It’s been confusing for us,” Huff said regarding determining the actual names of the victims.
Payette County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the shooting around 6:30 a.m. Monday where they found Beltran’s body inside the two-story home near Anderson Corner. Officers said four other people were also located inside the house, including an adult male, an adult female and two children.
They were all uninjured.
Witnesses said three men entered the house through an open window and a gun battle ensued. Following the shoot-out, the three men left in an unidentified vehicle. Police believe they may have used a ditch bank road for access to and from the scene. Huff said police know the three men who entered the house spoke English and Spanish and were of Hispanic descent. He said police now know Lizarraga returned fire during the incident. Police have processed the crime scene and have collected evidence and are now trying to follow leads and hopefully make an arrest.
“At this point we have very, very little to go on,” Huff said. Huff said while he thinks all residents, especially those in rural areas should be vigilant, evidence indicates the incident was isolated and the intruders knew which house they were entering. Tuesday, Huff said police did not believe the shootings was gang-related.
Police are asking for anyone with information on the shooting to please call the Payette County Sheriff's Office at (208) 642-6006, Ext. 2.
