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TREMONTON — An Idaho murder suspect now faces numerous criminal charges in Utah after allegedly leading police on a chase that ended with his arrest.
Thursday night, a 21-year-old man was shot multiple times and killed in Nampa, Idaho. Police say Christopher Williams, 21, of Philadelphia, was the gunman.
"After committing a homicide in Idaho, (Williams) stole the victim's truck and fled to Utah," according to charging documents.
Beginning late Thursday and continuing into Friday morning, multiple people called 911 to report a "reckless and aggressive" driver on I-84 between the Utah-Idaho border and Tremonton, according to a police booking affidavit. With Utah Highway Patrol troopers pursuing, Williams got off the freeway at the Garland exit but continued to drive more than 100 mph, the charges state. At one point, troopers say Williams was traveling 110 mph in a 40 mph zone.
"(Williams) ended up crashing the vehicle, but then got out and attempted to run before finally giving up as officers had him at gunpoint. While being handcuffed and taken into custody, (he) spit at officers, striking two deputies. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of four rifles and one handgun," according to the charges.
"Christopher was in possession of what is possibly the murder weapon in this case. We also found blood on Christopher's shoes that are believed to be from the shooting victim in Idaho," the affidavit states.
Williams also spit on another deputy as he was being booked into jail, the charges state.
Police say when Williams was arrested, he was also in possession of a credit card belonging to the man who was shot in Idaho, according to the affidavit.
Williams was charged Monday in 1st District Court with five counts of being a restricted person in possession of a weapon, and theft by receiving stolen property, both second-degree felonies. He was also charged with failing to stop at the command of police and spitting at an officer, third-degree felonies; two counts of spitting at an officer, a class A misdemeanor; interfering with an arresting officer and reckless driving, class B misdemeanors; and having an open container in his vehicle on the highway, a class C misdemeanor.
Charges related to the shooting in Nampa were pending as of Monday.
