On a spring day in Idaho Falls, Idaho, 23-year-old Michael Ephram was enjoying an outing that tragically turned fatal. On May 11, 2019, the young man was target shooting with companions in a rural area west of the city, near the old National Guard Training Range off the West Arco Highway. It was an activity shared by another group nearby, a decision that would have unforeseen and devastating consequences.
In a terrible turn of events, a stray bullet from the other party of shooters,
located several hundred feet away, struck Ephram in the head. The shot was instantly critical, and he lost consciousness immediately. In addition to the fatal round that hit the young man, other bullets from the same shooter also hit the vehicle that Ephram and his friends were near. Despite immediate medical attention, Michael Ephram succumbed to his injuries later that same day.
The immediate investigation by the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office pointed to a tragic accident rather than a malicious act. The individual who fired the fatal shot was identified and proved to be cooperative with the authorities throughout the investigation. Initial reports from law enforcement indicated that the incident was not intentional, a sentiment echoed by the cooperative nature of the shooter.
Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney's Office decided to press charges. The man responsible for the errant shot was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Court documents would later reveal that the suspect was initially unaware that he had shot anyone, underscoring the accidental, yet profoundly tragic, nature of the events that led to the untimely death of Michael Ephram.
