Idaho Crime: Preston Mass Killing Brings State’s Low Rate Into Focus

Four people were found dead late Sunday afternoon from apparent gunshot wounds in Preston, Idaho, according to local media reports. However, the victims’ identities and other information regarding their deaths were shrouded in mystery in a state that is not especially known for such violent crimes.

“On scene officers confirmed that there were four individuals dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside the home,” Preston Police Chief Ken Geddes said in a statement Sunday. “The identity of the deceased persons will not yet be released.”

Officers responded to a call to a residence, 67 West 200 South, at about 5 p.m. local time Sunday. The address was located to the very south of the state and just miles away from neighbor Utah’s northern border.

Geddes said there was no danger to the public at large, East Idaho News reported.

The deaths have resulted in a combination of efforts by local officials, with the Idaho State Police, Franklin Country Sheriff’s Department and Idaho State Police Forensics department joining Preston Police in the investigation, The Preston Citizen reported.

While more information was expected to be released Monday afternoon, it was clear the deaths were rare in Idaho.

Idaho, which is ranked No. 39 in the nation with a population of about 1.6 million, experienced only 30 murders in each of the past two years, according to data from the state police.

Twenty-five of those cases were cleared, the data showed. Idaho had only 1.8 murders per 100,000 people, by far one of the lowest in the country. Statistics for 2016 were not readily available.

Idaho did experience violent crime. However, it just was not as many murders as some other states. In 2015, more than 2,600 aggravated assaults were reported. More than 11,000 simple assaults, as well as 537 rapes and 83 sexual assaults, also took place.

According to the 2010 U.S. census, Preston's population was just over 5,200 people.