BOISE, Idaho — A shooting between police and an armed suspect at a Boise mall left two people dead and injured five others, including an officer, Monday afternoon.
KTVB learned on Tuesday the names of the victims of Monday's shooting and of the shooter who later died at the hospital.
According to Ada County Coroner Dotti Owens, the suspect died at Saint Alphonsus at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday. The man was identified as 27-year-old Jacob Bergquist of Boise.
The other two victims were identified as 26-year-old Jo Acker of Caldwell and 49-year-old Roberto Padilla Arguelles of Rupert, Idaho.
On Acker's personal Facebook page, they identified as a transgender woman and asked to be called "Jo." Acker added that "if you don't like it I don't really care."
Acker's listed sister on Facebook posted a statement on behalf of the family saying Acker "was the type of person that always wanted to help people."
The sibling wrote that many lives were saved because of Acker's "heroics" and they "will be remembered as a hero," adding they were "loved by all" who knew them and would be "greatly missed."
KTVB has verified GoFundMe campaigns for both victims. Acker's GoFundMe can be found here and Padilla Arguelles' GoFundMe can be found here.
Acker's former taekwondo instructor Master Lee told KTVB that he remembers Jo as very respectful and always caring. He was in shock, after Acker's mom gave him the news about what happened.
"I cant believe this happened, but I'm so proud," Master Seung Lee, Yong-in Master Lee's Taekwondo said.
Lee added "that's our teaching to help others and fight for justice" and that Jo "showed this example of our taekwondo philosophy."
Lee said Acker was a black belt.
On Thursday, the family of Roberto Padilla Arguelles issued a statement.
It reads:
"Roberto Padilla Arguelles was born in La Morita, Jalpa, Zacatecas Mexico on the 21st of September 1972. He was the second oldest of seven children. Roberto was married to Maria de Jesus Mora Flores and had 3 children ranging in ages from 26 to 14 years of age: Yanet, Rosalinda and Ivan. He was a hard-working man who had been coming to Idaho under the H2A program for the past 4 years. His main purpose in life was to care and support his family. At the time of his death, he was residing in Rupert, Idaho.
On Monday October 25th Roberto was one of the victims that passed away due to the shooting at the Boise Towne Mall. He was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Crime Victim Compensation Program from Boise has offered to help pay for expenses incurred here due to the shooting. His employer has offered to help with expenses to help send his body back to his family in Mexico. There is a Go Fund Me page that was set up by his family which is under Ricardo Macias and Bernardino Padilla’s care, that will be used for funeral expenses in Mexico. This will also be used to help the family as Roberto was the sole provider.
We are doing everything we can to recover his body so we can send it home to Mexico to rest. We want to thank everyone for their donations, and we appreciate the community for their willingness to help during this time. Currently, we do not have a timeline for funeral details as it is an ongoing police investigation. The Go Fund Me page will be closed as the amount has been reached if anyone desires to help the family there is an account set up for Roberto Padilla Arguelles donations at First Federal.
On Tuesday afternoon, Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee spoke during a press conference and said his heart goes out to the victims' families.
"I can only imagine the grief the family is going through and the unexpected nature of this tragedy," he said.
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said people at the mall found themselves in a situation they never could have expected.
"Never should one have to or does one expect when they're saying goodbye to their loved one who's headed to work, who's headed up to shop, get a call like they did today," McLean said.
This story will be updated.