A DoorDash driver in Idaho has been arrested after he allegedly shot a man in front of thousands of witnesses when he grew impatient with the crowd while trying to deliver baby formula during a lantern festival.
Edsel Robert Johnson was arrested and charged with one count each of first-degree murder, reckless driving and battery in connection to the death of Bradley Allen Rex, according to court records viewed by Us Weekly.
The shooting took place on Saturday, May 9, around 7 p.m. at the Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KXLY. At the time, a large crowd gathered to attend the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival.
After Johnson, 32, shot Rex, he reportedly called 911 himself to report the shooting and told the dispatcher that the victim had struck his vehicle with something. Johnson went on to claim that he “didn’t want to shoot him but had stuff to do.”
Several witnesses spoke to investigators, who said they saw Johnson honking his horn as he quickly drove a silver van the wrong way on Beck Road. Most of the pedestrians and cars moved out of Johnson’s way, though Rex reportedly refused.
Rex’s wife, who witnessed the shooting, told investigators that her husband was attempting to protect bystanders from Johnson’s erratic driving, according to The Spokesman-Review.
As Johnson’s van approached Rex, the victim reportedly refused to move out of the road and allegedly swung a folding chair at the side of Johnson’s vehicle as it passed on the shoulder of the road.
The confrontation between the men reportedly escalated, with witnesses telling authorities that Johnson stopped his vehicle, got out, punched Rex and threw him to the ground. One witness added that they saw Rex being “body slammed” into a ditch.
After Johnson assaulted Rex, he reportedly got back in his car. Rex, who was unarmed, then approached Johnson’s side window before the driver allegedly shot at Rex through the open window and drove away.
The shooting was captured on video, which showed Johnson’s hand emerging from the vehicle’s window as he held a small black object. Rex was then seen falling onto the ground.
After Johnson was taken into custody, he reportedly told detectives that he “messed up” and that the shooting “should not have happened.”
Johnson also told investigators that he was delivering baby formula at the time of his altercation with Rex. He admitted to slamming the victim to the ground, saying that his reaction was “bad.”
“I have no idea why I did that,” Johnson allegedly said. “He was pulling my door. What was I supposed to do?”
Johnson appeared in court on Monday, May 11, where a judge called the incident a critical failure of judgment, according to KREM. “You made an extremely fatal and critical decision that day and as a result of that decision a member of our community here lost his life, his family lost a father, a brother,” the judge said, per the outlet.
Johnson is currently in custody at Kootenai County Jail and is being held without bond. It is not currently clear if he has entered a plea or retained legal counsel.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office could not confirm details of the case when contacted by Us Weekly due to the ongoing investigation.
