Two Boise men have been charged in connection with a BB gun shooting spree that police say caused more than $50,000 worth of damage.
David Hochstetler, 28, has been charged with malicious injury to property and Michael J. Walsh, 59, has been charged with aiding and abetting malicious injury to property. Both are felonies.
On October 31, while investigating multiple reports of vandalism in Boise, police say they received information from Idaho Probation and Parole officers regarding a probationer -– later identified as Hochstetler -- who was being taken into custody on a probation violation.
Officers say they were able to identify both Hochstetler and Walsh as suspects in the vandalism investigation.
“The evidence showed that while Michael Walsh drove, David Hochstetler fired a BB out the passenger window on multiple occasions. The suspect’s vehicle, a dark blue two-door Ford Explorer with a temporary license plate, matched the description given to police by witnesses,” said a Boise Police news release.
Investigators say over $50,000 worth of damage was caused to vehicles and businesses between October 18th and October 25th.
Thirty-four windows of businesses and vehicles were damaged along State Street and into the downtown area, on the Boise Bench, Vista Avenue and Orchard Street.
Both suspects were taken into custody on unrelated charges.
Hochstetler is currently in the Ada County Jail on the malicious injury to property charge, as well as Felony Parole Violation.
Walsh is in the Idaho Department of Correction on unrelated charges. Authorities say he will be formally charged in connection with the BB gun spree upon his release.
