Man claims innocence in alleged 4th street murder and home invasion

Lance Broncho appears for his District Court arraignment connected Monday. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

IDAHO FALLS – A man accused of first-degree execution and robbery appeared successful tribunal Monday and pleaded not blameworthy to each charges.

Lance Broncho, 23, pleaded not blameworthy to nan felony first-degree execution of 51-year-old Eric Leask, felony aggravated artillery pinch nan usage of a deadly weapon, felony robbery, felony burglary, felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and 2 felony enhancements for nan usage of a deadly limb successful nan committee of a felony.

Broncho appeared pinch his nationalist defender, John Thomas, earlier District Judge Michael Whyte. Whyte said scheduling issues needed to beryllium resolved, truthful a proceedings has not yet been scheduled.

RELATED | Man accused of 4th Street execution allegedly collapsed into nan incorrect house

Broncho is expected to look for a position convention connected July 22.

If convicted, he could look up to life successful situation aliases nan decease penalty.

Background

According to tribunal documents, an Idaho Falls Police detective was called astir 9 p.m. connected March 9 to analyse a shooting connected nan 100 artifact of 4th Street.

A female who lived astatine nan location said she and Leask woke up to an “unknown fishy breaking successful their beforehand door.”

Broncho reportedly started fighting pinch nan woman’s son, and Leask jumped successful to take sides nan son.

RELATED | Idaho Falls 4th Street execution fishy talks astir victim’s decease successful jailhouse video call

The female said Broncho had a weapon and “face tattoos adjacent his eyes.” She told nan detective she saw him sprout nan weapon aggregate times.

In an question and reply pinch detectives, nan boy said he was playing video games successful his chamber erstwhile he heard a sound astatine nan doorway and “loud banging.”

Lance Broncho | Bonneville County Jail

Broncho entered nan location and saw nan boy successful nan surviving room. The boy said Broncho was wearing “a disguise and acheronian clothing,” was equipped pinch a handgun, and yelled, “Give maine everything!”

Both Leask and nan boy tried to “overpower” Broncho, but he was capable to sprout nan weapon “several times,” hitting nan boy successful nan limb and manus and Leask successful nan shoulder/chest area.

According to nan son, he gave a “cased 9 mm FN firearm to (Broncho) to get him to leave.” Broncho past ran from nan home, but nan residents told nan detective they believed Broncho was besides injured.

Both Leask and nan boy were transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by Idaho Falls ambulance.

Leask later died from his injuries. The boy was later discharged.

Hours later, constabulary learned of a man who had been “shot successful nan manus and requested thief from a friend to get nan slug retired of his manus and assistance him successful getting retired of nan area,” according to constabulary reports.

Around 11 p.m., investigators recovered Broncho astatine nan Teton Mesa Apartments connected 885 Lomax Street.

Two of nan group successful nan flat initially refused to travel out, starting a standoff pinch nan SWAT team. A “chemical irritant” was introduced into nan apartment, according to tribunal documents, and Broncho surrendered.

When taken into custody, he still had a slug successful his hand, truthful he was taken to EIRMC for treatment.

RELATED | Man charged pinch execution pursuing play shooting successful Idaho Falls

At nan hospital, Broncho allegedly told officers that earlier successful nan evening, he had gone to nan location to get marijuana.

According to constabulary reports Broncho admitted he had “been involved” successful a disturbance astatine nan location wherever he had been shot.

The Idaho Falls Police Department says they judge Broncho targeted nan incorrect house.

“At this time, it does not look that Broncho had immoderate relationship to knowledge of nan residents that would support his presumption that he could get marijuana from them,” according to an IFPD news release. “At this time, investigators judge that Broncho mistakenly targeted nan house.”

At nan clip of nan location invasion, Broncho was connected national supervised merchandise and had an progressive felony warrant.

In July 2020, a expansive assemblage indicted Broncho for national felony battle causing superior wounded for stabbing a man successful nan tummy connected nan Fort Hall reservation. He was sentenced to complete 3 years and 4 months successful jail.

Broncho was convicted again successful April 2021 of felony battle resulting successful superior bodily wounded connected nan Fort Hall reservation.

In Nov. 2023, Broncho was arrested and charged pinch felony aggravated artillery aft allegedly attacking different man pinch a shot bat. According to Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal, nan charges were dismissed owed to a deficiency of grounds from witnesses.