NOTUS, Idaho -- Canyon County deputies are continuing to investigate a shooting at a Jacksons convenience store in Notus Wednesday morning that left a clerk dead.
The two men suspected of shooting 25-year-old Chris Reese of Parma are still on the loose, and deputies don't have many leads to go on.
While crimes do happen at gas stations, they rarely seem to be this violent.
"Stinker feels badly for the Jacksons family. We wish them well, they are in our prayers and we are a tight community," said Charley Jones, Stinker Station owner and president.
Many in this industry feel impacted by what happened in Notus.
"We just need to be careful of how we operate and be aware of what's going on," said Jones.
Jones gave us some insight into the protocol employees use when someone comes in the store demanding money.
"Our direction to our employees is your job is not to be a cop, not to be a hero, but to get that person out of your store as quickly as possible, so whatever they want they can have it," he said.
Deputies do not believe Reese provoked the shooters. They aren't even sure Reese had time to respond to two masked men armed with guns. It appears robbery may have been the motive in this case.
"The safe was removed from the store but it was recovered near where the stolen vehicle was recovered," said Chief Deputy Marv Dashiell. "It appears that it did have some attempt to enter it, but haven't been able to verify though our crime lab whether it was actually opened or not."
Jones says many times cameras in convenience stores serve as a deterrent for crime.
Canyon County detectives plan to go through weeks of surveillance footage from this Jacksons store.
"Our concerns on this, if we've already seen them take a human life we know that our officers are going to be at risk when they come in contact with them, we know the public could be at risk if they get pressured into situation," said Dashiell.
The Canyon County Sheriff's Office is still seeking tips from the public.
The Jacksons store in Notus remains in the custody of the sheriff's office, and there is no word on when it might reopen.
Jones tells us that most convenience stores keep very little money in their cash registers during the day. Many people are using credit or debit cards. Money is constantly being moved and locked up in a different location.
Jacksons is offering a $25,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for Christopher Reese's death.
The company has also set up a memorial fund for his family. Donations can be made at any U.S. Bank branch:
- To the benefit of the Christopher R. Reese Family
- Tiffany M. Martin
- Last four digits of the account: #1794
