$1 million bail set in Oldtown shooting case

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SANDPOINT — A man suspected of shooting an Oldtown man is in custody at the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office on $1,050,000 bail.

Eric Loren Benzo, 46, is suspected of shooting Donald Bush on Oct. 12 around 6:30 a.m.. Benzo was detained in the Spokane County Jail two days later before being extradited to Bonner County on Monday.

Benzo, who is being held on $1 million bail in relation to the shooting, is seeing an additional $50,000 bail in relation to a meth trafficking charge from November 2020 in Oldtown.

According to court documents, Benzo arrived at the Oldtown residence on Silver Birch Lane at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 12. In court proceedings held later that day, Bonner County Sheriff’s Detective Phillip Stella testified that the only witness to the shooting, Rebecaa Alhers, was “on-again-off-again boyfriend-girlfriend with both Bush and Benzo.” Stella described Benzo as a jealous person.

Both Alhers and Bush exited the residence upon hearing Benzo outside. According to Alhers’s interview with Stella, Bush said something to the effect of “let’s settle this like men” to Benzo. The detective testified that Benzo then allegedly pulled a firearm on Bush and chased him around a truck in front of the residence before shooting him at least two times. Bush was unarmed, but a set of brass knuckles was found close to his right hand by deputies.

Benzo left the scene shortly after. Only a single spent projectile was found, according to court documents

First District Magistrate Judge Lori Meulenberg found probable cause for the murder on Oct. 20. Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall asked Benzo’s bail be set at $1 million.

Benzo will appear for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 15.