A 32-year-old DoorDash driver, Edsel Robert Johnson, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, reckless driving, and battery after allegedly shooting a man in front of thousands of witnesses, including the victim’s wife, at a lantern festival in Post Falls, Idaho.
The Fatal Confrontation
The shooting occurred on Saturday, shortly after 7 p.m., at the Stateline Speedway during the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival, a crowded event attended by hundreds. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KXLY, Johnson was delivering baby formula when he became frustrated by the crowd and the slow-moving traffic.
Witnesses reported seeing Johnson honking his horn and driving his silver van the wrong way down Beck Road at a high rate of speed, despite the street being packed with pedestrians.
Bradley Allen Rex, the 46-year-old victim, reportedly refused to move out of the way, and an altercation ensued. Rex’s wife, who was at the scene, told investigators her husband attempted to protect bystanders from the erratic driver. As the van approached, Rex allegedly swung a folding chair at the vehicle in an attempt to stop it.
Escalation and Fatal Shooting
The situation escalated quickly. Some witnesses claimed that Johnson stopped his van, got out, and physically attacked Rex by punching him and slamming him into the ground. One witness described Rex being “body-slammed” into a ditch.
After the initial physical confrontation, Johnson returned to his van, and when Rex approached the driver’s side window, Johnson allegedly fired a single shot through the open window and drove away.
The shooting was captured on video, showing Rex falling down an embankment and then approaching the vehicle. The footage reportedly shows Johnson’s hand emerging from the van with a small black object, pointing it at Rex, who then collapsed to the ground.
Johnson’s Confession and Impatience
Johnson reportedly called 911 himself to report the shooting, telling the dispatcher that the man he shot had struck his vehicle with something. He allegedly claimed he didn’t want to shoot Rex but was “in a hurry” and “had stuff to do.”
In a subsequent interview with detectives, Johnson admitted to slamming Rex to the ground during the initial confrontation and said that when Rex approached the vehicle, he “reacted. Bad.” Johnson expressed regret but said that his own impatience fueled the encounter. “Why didn’t he just get out of my way?” he reportedly asked. He further stated, “I have no idea why I did that… dude is dead over nothing.”
Legal Proceedings
During a court appearance on Monday, the judge criticized Johnson’s actions, calling the shooting “a critical failure of judgment.” The judge added, “You made an extremely fatal and critical decision that day, and as a result of that decision, a member of our community here lost his life.”
Johnson is currently being held in the Kootenai County Jail without bond. His next court date has not been scheduled.
