Boise murder suspect ordered held without bail
Brandon T. Bahr nodded as Ada County Magistrate Henry Boomer explained the charges against him during an arraignment Thursday afternoon.
Bahr, 24, is accused of fatally shooting Boise resident Zacheriah Neil Peterson outside the Boise Depot at 8:49 p.m. Wednesday. Peterson, 21, was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, where he died about 40 minutes later from a gunshot wound to the chest. An autopsy report was issued Thursday by Ada County Coroner Dotti Owens.
Bahr is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft and use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony.
“These are some of the most serious charges one can be charged with,” Boomer said.
Witnesses told police that they saw Peterson arguing with another man when the dispute turned violent. The two men knew each other, police said.
It’s unclear why they were at the Depot. There were no scheduled events there Wednesday evening, said Doug Holloway, director of the Boise Parks and Recreation Department. Entering the Depot and surrounding grounds after dark is illegal unless attending a permitted event there, Holloway said. Wednesday’s sunset took place at 7:40 p.m.
Bahr was arrested at 12:30 a.m. Thursday at a home near the intersection of West Cherry Lane and Ten Mile Road in Meridian, where he resides. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.
No details from the shooting were provided at the arraignment. Typically, a prosecutor explains what happened as part of a discussion about bail. In this case, Boomer ordered Bahr held without bail without input from a prosecutor or defense attorney.
“It is within the court’s discretion and I ask that he be held for now without bond,” Boomer said.
He scheduled Bahr to return to court Oct. 8 for a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Michael Oths. A motion for bail to be set could be heard at that time.
Brenda Marosvari, who lives in a home several hundred feet from the Depot, said she was inside when the shooting took place. She didn’t hear anything, she said, but learned of the shooting when her husband came inside and reported what he said sounded like a shot. A large number of police cars and other emergency vehicles arrived within minutes, she said.
“I’m sorry it happened. I wish those boys had some different options in their pockets,” said Marosvari. “It’s sure sad and unfortunate that two people’s lives have been impacted this way.”
Marosvari, who has lived in a house that overlooks the Depot and Downtown Boise her entire life, said she can’t remember any incidents in the neighborhood other than a few traffic accidents.
“It’s a very safe place,” she said.
Bahr has another case pending in local court. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of petit theft, reportedly committed June 27, according to court documents. He was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit in 2013, purchasing alcohol as a minor in 2012 and possessing drugs with intent to use in 2011.
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Boise murder suspect ordered held without bail."