In the quiet outskirts of Pocatello, Idaho, a Friday afternoon turned tragic on April 3, 2026, ending the life of 36-year-old Amanda Ann Christian. The day's violent events unfolded on Tank Farm Road, a rural area in northern Power County, where Christian and another individual, 40-year-old Brandon Lee Madden of Pocatello, were fatally shot. A third person with them was also wounded in the initial attack.
Law enforcement from Power County, Bannock County, and other local agencies swarmed
the area after receiving a distress call around 2:38 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered the grim scene with Christian and Madden already deceased. As deputies began their investigation, they located a suspect, identified as 63-year-old Richard Todd Forrest of Pocatello, hiding near the Portneuf River.
While trying to negotiate with Forrest, the situation escalated. Officers heard more gunshots and discovered that Forrest had shot a fourth individual, a bystander who was on a boat in the river. According to authorities, Forrest then brandished a firearm and posed a lethal threat to the deputies. Law enforcement responded with deadly force, and Forrest died at the scene.
The two injured victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The individual who was with Christian and Madden was reported to be in stable condition, while the person on the boat was treated and later released. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force and the Idaho State Police have taken the lead on the investigation into the shootings, including the officer-involved shooting of Forrest. At this time, the motive for the initial attack by Forrest remains unclear.
