TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Twin Falls deputies continue to search for 32-year-old Jacob Bellus, who they say fired shots into a home south of Kimberly around 9 p.m. on Easter Sunday before fleeing a cream-colored 1990 GMC Jimmy.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing a vehicle speeding away from the area. No one was injured in the shooting.
Deputies later attempted a traffic stop, but Bellus is said to have sped away, leading to a short pursuit. Ultimately, the suspect abandoned their vehicle near Beno Street and Highland Avenue and fled on foot.
WATCH: Twin Falls deputies search for armed suspect Jacob Bellus after home shooting.
Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said deputies were first called to reports of shots fired.
"Once they got there, they determined that shots had actually hit an occupied dwelling as well as another vehicle on location had been rammed," explained Johnson.
Deputies quickly learned who they were looking for and located Bellus and the vehicle he was driving near the sugar beet factory in south Twin Falls. After a short pursuit, Johnson said Bellus got away on foot into the maze of Rock Creek Canyon.
In partnership with the Twin Falls Police Department and Idaho State Police, an emergency notification was issued to Twin Falls neighbors warning them to shelter in place as law enforcement searched for Bellus in and around the canyon.
"We had an armed person, we couldn't find him, didn't know where they were at, and we wanted people to be safe and remain in their homes," Johnson said.
Even with the use of drones, law enforcement was unable to locate Bellus and called off the search around 3 a.m., lifting the shelter-in-place order at the same time.
Public court records show Bellus has an extensive criminal history. I asked Johnson if the public should be worried that he is still at large.
"At this time, we don't have any indication of a further threat to the public; however, I would still encourage everybody to be vigilant and be on their toes. Again, you don't know where somebody might try to take up hiding," Johnson said. "If he is watching this, I'd encourage him to come in and talk to either the police department or preferably the sheriff's office."
Bellus is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and 190 pounds, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a beard. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office or contact SIRCOMM at 208-735-1911.
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