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Dispatchers with the Bonavville County Emergency Communication [music] Center in Idaho Falls received a 911 call reporting gunshots in a normally quiet subdivision. As officers rushed to the scene, the caller stated that he could see a body in the street covered in blood and had [music] no idea whether he was alive or not. >> Hey man, >> what's your name? >> 105 one down. Multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. Stick around through the end because we'll unpack the evidence from top to bottom and uncover exactly what happened. >> Hey. Hi. >> I'm with you, man. I'm with you. Medics are coming. I'm here with you. All right. Just hold on, man. Kenna, can you take down the plate? Maybe put it on two. >> Okay. Okay. 77 take down one John 99022. >> Do you need a sucking chest wound? >> Got you, man. >> We're going to need two. Two of them. Kenna, >> we we need two. I don't know even what I have in here. I've got I've got a little kit in my bag. Okay. Um Oh, here they are. Medics right here. >> I mean, I guess she's okay. Multiple with the torso. We got a chest seal. >> Look at our one here. And I haven't even rolled him over. >> That's okay. But kind of put your light on his torso for me. I don't want him to cut through any of your holes here. Any of his holes. Has been responsive for you guys at all. >> No, he he's moaned. >> Do you need me to? >> He's moaned. He started some agonal breathing, but then he started moaning again. >> Okay, here's what we're going to do, ladies. When He gets the stretcher, we're going to pick him up. We're going to put him on. We're going to He'll be all right. All right. Sounds good. >> Get the stretcher, too. >> Yeah. >> All right. Do you need help? >> Yes. Okay, >> boy. We uh we went to the wrong spot, >> did you? >> Yeah, >> it's okay. Yeah. No. Yeah. >> 770 is here. >> Okay. Yeah. >> You know, dude, he's not awful. >> He's not. Which worries me that it's going in inside? >> Yeah, I'm here. >> Want me to ride with you? >> I'll ride with you. >> I We're We'll probably hang on till the engine gets here. >> Oh, yeah. >> If we can. We got to get the pads on. We got to make sure we still got hard. >> Can toss me some more gloves, please. Just start wrapping that arm with you for me. You still got a great pulse. >> Yeah, he's >> that one, two, three, four, five, >> six. All right. See uh see exit wounds. Connor, did you look at the back yet? >> Hold on. Yeah. >> Through and through. >> What you need? Tell me. >> Well, >> can you guys get >> Can you guys Can you guys come with us? >> Drive us to IC. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Back with her. So then I'll be driving the ambulance to the hospital. >> What did you hear? >> Just we kind of thought it was shot. >> How many shots did you hear? >> I don't know exactly. >> About like >> seven, eight. >> Yeah. >> A lot. >> About a lot. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And so >> I saw some through like the fences like the field. >> So followed it wondering what it was. >> Did you guys see anything or hear anything? >> We heard it. >> You heard it. >> You watched it. This window right here. >> You were standing in that window. >> I was sitting in my chair. >> Okay. And you watched it >> TV. I watched this car pull up. >> It was a car or >> this car right here. The headlight headlights on it >> and it sat there for a few minutes and then he got out and I seen this light going around like a cell phone or something. >> Okay. >> He walked around there, walked around the car and everything and then went down and a few minutes later the shots went off. >> Okay. Where did the shots come from? You seem like they came from right there at that car. Right there where he >> You ready? >> Hold on, girlfriend. I think >> to the hospital. >> I need someone to grab her bag off ahead of my car. >> He was laying there and no one around. >> Thank you. Okay, we have to >> not yet. So, he was laying right here. The car's running. No one's around. >> Heads here, feet that way. We got at least one here. Some casings here. >> I got you. >> Are you sure? Okay, good. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. And no one has been over here yet. One probably under the tire. Okay. >> So, do we have any witnesses? >> I don't know. But when I got here, this person was watching out the window and looked like they were on the phone. So, I'm going to go talk to them. >> Here's a phone. That's all we got. The phone. I haven't even checked in the car yet. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Did [snorts] you guys see anything? >> I didn't see anything, but I heard something. >> You did? >> I heard seven. I heard seven shot. I heard one little sharp like and then afterwards >> Uh-huh. Did you see a car? >> I saw a car. So, I looked out right after we heard the shots and I don't have a ton of details. I know that it was a sedan, likely four-door, and it was light colored. Um, and it took off that direction real fast. And after the shots, >> after the shots, after the shots, that car has been in the neighborhood off and on for the last few weeks. >> The one that's running. the one that's spreading. >> Mine is the one behind it up >> hill. >> Okay. >> All right. You guys heard or saw? >> I heard. >> We were walking my dog down the street. We thought it was just fireworks and then we get up to the end of the street and see a cop pull in and we just see someone laying outside their car dead >> laying outside the white car. >> Yeah, there was laying outside. >> There was more than like six shots, too. >> Okay. Did you Was that the only car involved or was there another car? >> I didn't hear any other cars when it happened. I didn't hear anything going down the road. I just heard the gunshots. I live a couple houses down. >> Okay. You didn't hear like a car speed off or anything like that? >> No. >> That's >> I just heard about 10 rounds go off that rapid fire. >> Um >> he lives here. My car is the one that's far behind that. >> So you guys just heard shots and shots. >> You're the one who bed. >> You're the caller. >> I was laying on the bed right there. >> Uhhuh. >> I wasn't asleep or anything. And I heard four I think four bam and then just a little hesitation and three more. I don't know if we are looking for I I haven't talked to any of these guys yet who have who who have seen the suspect vehicle. None of these guys are saying they saw any other vehicle other than that one. There may have been obviously but so I don't know if rounds came out of a house or something. Right. >> A neighbor says as soon as the shots went off they saw a small light colored sedan early 2000's model uh speeding off northbound. the guy right across the street. I haven't spoken to him and he was looking out the window. Looked like he was on the phone when I pulled up. So, he might have something to say. >> Okay. When you came on. >> Yeah, while I was dealing with the patient. >> Anyways, I know he has a Ring doorbell. So, >> perfect. >> So, there might have been a vehicle that left the area. We're not sure if it's a driveby or if it maybe came from a house or something. So, keep your eyes on. >> What was the description? >> Well, we heard a fulls size truck, unknown make, model, or color. And then something about there might have been a like a station wagon or something. >> Okay. >> He was out. He saw pretty shortly what happened. Couldn't describe anything specific, but the truck actually went uh westbound. >> So you saw for sure a truck? >> Yeah, it was definitely a truck. >> Did you see a little light colored sedan? >> No. Okay. >> Nope. >> Any luck with that camera? >> It doesn't work. >> It's not working. Though witnesses offered somewhat conflicting statements, a key piece of evidence in the form of a Facebook post created at about this time would later be shown to detectives and bring the full scope of this crime into focus. >> Here, so this vehicle is the one John. The one that they say is a blue car, but it's actually a white car. >> Does this picture pop up? >> I haven't ran it yet. Yeah, I'm assuming this is his vehicle. He was laying next to it. His phone is there. But I want to see if his picture pops up. >> But that's the one John plate right there. Okay. Cuz it said that it's a blue car, but that's a white car, right? Okay. Just want to make sure. >> Okay. So, I think it might be worth going and knocking over it. Clinton wants to cruise over there with me. >> Well, hold on. Let me >> uh just across the street. >> Let me see if that's even him in this picture because if not, you might be walking into a suspect or someone involved. You know, >> it was at this moment that dispatchers received a very unexpected 911 call. >> 911? Where is your emergency? >> Uh, yeah. I uh need to turn myself in. >> Okay. In reference to what >> shooting. >> Okay. Where did it happen at? >> Um, it happened on Saturn Avenue. >> Okay. What's your name? >> My name is Mark Vince. >> And what happened, Mark? >> Um, I shot I shot someone. >> Okay. And where are you at now? I'm at Albertson's on 17th right by O'Reilly's Auto Parts in Wills Fargo. >> Okay. Are you in a car? >> I'm in a truck. I'll I'll be outside with my hands up. >> What kind of truck are you in? >> It's a grade Toyota Tacoma. >> Okay. Do you have the gun with you still, Mark? >> Yeah, it's inside. It's unloaded. It's in the truck. I'll be outside the truck when the police show up and I'll have my hands up. >> Okay. Hang on just a second for me. Okay. Let me talk to my officers. Who is the guy? Do you know him or >> Yeah. >> Okay. What's his name? >> His name is Nicholas Bird. >> We probably don't want to walk on it too much without We probably want to wait for the dicks >> right now. We got suspect >> on the phone. >> I got detectives coming out. We think we have a suspect on the phone right now. >> For information, he's pinging at Common Sense. Don't worry. He hasn't given us his location. Copy. >> Copy. >> Common sense on 17. >> I have not touched the car. I have >> He's calling us. Let's go. So, you're on it. >> Okay. Can you tell me your side of the story? What happened? >> Um, so he Well, actually, I think at this point I need a lawyer. >> You just want to talk to a lawyer at this point? >> Yeah, but I'm going to turn myself in. So, >> okay. Nope, that's totally fine. Um, I'm just going to let you know when I officers are getting ready to pull up. Okay. >> Okay. >> He's saying he's in parking lot of Albertton's gray Toyota Tacoma. >> 104. Um, is he being cooperative? >> Affirmative. give him instructions that we want him to be on his knees with his hands and on top of his head when we arrive. >> Okay, thank you. >> How's my car? You're not shot up. >> I I haven't You know what? No offense, but that's not even my priority right now is your car. So, >> because I got back to >> Well, you know, somebody might have just been murdered, so I really don't care about your car. >> DJ, where's the suspect supposed to be? What's coming? Is it Albertson 59017? Can you just let 33 know stay with the victim? He's at the hospital. >> Copy. >> 33. I copy. I'm out with >> 55 units responding. As you guys get closer, turn off your sirens. I want to >> We've got an officer that's going to be pulling up in just a second for me. Just let me know when you see him. Okay. >> Okay. >> Do you have any name yet? >> Mark. >> All right. I should have an officer pulling up. Just let me know when you see him. Okay. >> Okay. I don't see anyone yet. >> Are you Are you outside? >> Yeah, I'm outside. >> Okay. What I need you to do is go ahead and lay down on the ground on your stomach right next to your truck for me. Okay. And put your hands out to the side. Let me know when you do it and just put put the phone next to your mouth so I can hear you. >> Okay. I see the police showing up now. >> Are you on the ground? >> Yeah, I'm laying on the ground right now. >> Oh, you clearly A6. >> Put your hands out to your side. Albert parking lot. He's on the ground next to J. >> Hold the air. >> 22. We have him proned out. If you're responding, don't come from the west side. >> Let me get on my driver's side with the deputy and then we'll bring him to that side. >> Watch your crossfire. On you, Oscar. >> Suspect, get on your knees. Slowly, slowly. Hands on your head. Interace your finger. Stand up to your feet. I want you to do lift up your shirt from the top. from the top. Lift it up. Okay, turn around. You >> think he's a plumber? >> All the way. Do >> you think he's a plumber? >> All the way. >> Stop. Get back to the sound of my voice. Going. >> Just have him go. Have him go straight back. >> Have him stop. I got it. Oscar, take uh six steps to your right. Side steps. Stop. >> Eric, you want to go uh help him take him into custody? >> I'm I'm covering the car. Okay. >> Back up. Back up. Back up. Stop. Down on your knees. Hands on top of your head. Interlock your fingers. Ready? >> You want to cuff him? >> Is anyone else in the vehicle? >> No. >> Where's the gun? >> It's on the passenger seat. 22. We have one in custody. >> Is there anybody else in the car, dude? >> No. >> Only Only in Idaho Falls does the suspect call the police. >> [laughter] >> It's my very first uh shooting scene where there's not a gigantic crowd of people yelling and screaming and picking up everything and fighting us. >> All right. Um you guys want to move forward? >> Rifle front. Rifle point. >> Okay. We going to go driver side or passenger side? >> Let's just do driver's side since it has I think where he came from. So it should be unlocked. We know that for sure on you post at the back of the car. I'm going to pop in. Clear. Clear. Firearm on the passenger seat. >> You want to get some answers of that before? >> Yeah. Uh, Ty, you got your phone on you, Tyson? If not, I'll I'll grab mine. >> Here, I'll get you a bag. >> Hold on. We're going to take pictures. And I think we have Dicks coming out, so we can just let them touch everything. If we have right now, >> we know. And then if you will just uh point your toe to the ground. Put your tread up >> so that your your heels up. Go and put your toe to the ground >> behind you. >> So step back >> so you can get his tread. >> Can you take a picture? >> Secure that guy's vehicle over there. >> Just to show the bottom of his secondary scene also with him in custody. Graham is going to meet uh whoever is transporting him at the L for an interview there. Go >> ahead and take a seat for me, please. Thank you. Go ahead. >> You know, it's weird that there's not any bullet holes in any of these cars. It's like, was he shooting this way? And if so, did they all just go into him? And nothing. I'm not seen any. Maybe he caught every one of them. >> As Mark Bent was being taken into the Idaho Falls Police Department for questioning, Mark's father called dispatch. public safety. This is Britney. >> Yes. Um, my name's William Bent. Well, my son Mark Bent shot somebody. >> Okay. And how do you know about this? >> Well, he called me before the and I tried to I deescalated the situation, told him just to turn himself in. He said the police were going to be there. Oh, about a half hour ago. They were supposed to >> Okay. >> Meet him in his truck. Okay. We we did take him into custody. >> Okay. Okay. That's the main thing I wanted to know. I just didn't I I deescalated the situation, so I just wanted to make sure that happened. >> We do appreciate that. Sorry to hear about that, William. Thanks for calling us. >> We'll get you on in just a minute. Okay. >> Okay. All right. You have any questions for me? Okay. victim only according to the suspect because nobody else has given me his name is Nicholas Bird. He is the RO of the vehicle that was given to me. >> 105 regarding uh the DL picture of Nicholas does match my victim. >> Hey, how's it going ma'am? I'm Detective Graham here. Why don't you go ahead and stand up? I'm going get you out of those cuffs. Okay. Are you soda guy? Water guy? What do you like? >> Some water. >> Water? You want some water? All right, just chill here for a minute. I'll be right back. Okay. Well, seems like it's been a crazy day, Mark. Do you agree? I prefer to just get to know people. [snorts] You know what I'm saying? So, if you're cool with that, would you mind just tell me a little bit about yourself? Well, first I need to let you know I'm I'm pretty intoxicated. >> Okay. >> Uh both of alcohol and marijuana. >> Okay. >> So, >> no problem. >> Just so you [laughter] know. >> It's no problem. >> No problem. >> So, I'm from Seattle. >> Okay. >> I moved here because of my job. I was working at UPS. >> Okay. >> In Seattle. and they they offered to have me come down here and I wanted to have a change and um I'm been down here for a year and a half and um >> What do you think of this area compared to Seattle? >> Um I actually like it a lot. >> I bought a house in Pocutello. >> Oh, Pokey, huh? What' you go to Pokey for? I have so much better. [laughter] >> I I honestly I couldn't find a house in Iowa Falls. Like I >> you know the the thing about Pocutello is that I don't like the town but I like where it's at like because it's like right in that valley. Lots of trees like lots of hillside. >> Y >> So are you still working for UPS? >> No. Um I quit there on um in early July. >> Okay. What made you quit there? Basically, my boss was a jerk and um he had like four supervisors quit and like five mechanics quit. I worked in the automotive department. >> Okay. Do you have any friends family here or anything like that? >> I don't have any family here. I just have friends. >> Where's your family at? >> Well, my parents are in Seattle. >> Okay. >> My sister's in um uh Richland, Washington, and my brother's in London. Well, a lot has gone on tonight, you know what I mean? Um, I think what's important is sometimes why something happened is just as important as what happened, if not more important. It's it's so important that we understand why something happened because it sheds a whole light on things and I want to hear your story and and why this occurred tonight because I'm sure there's more to it than just meets the eye. You know what I mean? But I want you to know also that during our conversation, you have rights, you know, and I want you to understand those rights. And so what I want you to do is just look over this for me. Okay? It's just your rights and understand that at any point during our talk, these are aborted to you. Okay. Do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Do you want me to read them to you? >> Can you read it? Okay. Okay. You have the right to remain silent and you say, "Can it be used against you in court?" But you understand these rights. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Uh, tell me about today just about I mean when you woke up today, what's what's what was going on today? It's kind of a long story, you know, how everything connected to today. >> Yeah. >> Go back as far as you need, man. If if it's a week ago, a month ago, a year, where we want to start? >> I think I do need to get an attorney. Yeah. I don't I just I don't want to say anything without legal advice. >> The only thing I I'm I really want to know is is he okay? Is he Is he in the hospital or? >> So, yes, he's in the hospital right now. I don't know any kind of prognosis at this at this point in time. Okay. >> Yep. >> Yeah. I just I think I need to get an attorney here. >> Okay, I can respect that. >> Nicholas Bird died on the operating table from blood loss. An autopsy later identified 14 separate entrance wounds and many other secondary wounds caused by the bullets. [music] According to the autopsy report, several of the bullets had an upward trajectory, suggesting that at one point Bent fired while Nick was on the ground. Other bullets had a backto-front [music] trajectory, suggesting that Bent likely fired his initial shots while Nick was facing away from him. Officers found 17 casings at the crime scene along with holes in the pavement where Nick's body was found, supporting [music] the idea that several shots were fired while he was lying in the street. The firearm found in Mark's truck, [music] along with the two magazines loaded with 17 bullets each, matched the casings found at the scene. An image recovered from Nick's phone taken moments before the initial 911 calls were placed depicts a broken side mirror, which Bent confessed to breaking during trial proceedings, suggesting that the broken mirror was used to distract Nick while Bent sprung his ambush. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when the lead detective [music] answered a 911 call from a couple who was worried about their friend, Mark Bent, who had made a troubling Facebook post after the shooting. >> So, let me see uh what you guys found. He's just a like a pretty good friend to us and we're just really >> concerned and if he did do something even though he's our friend, we need >> Yeah. >> You know, >> I am saddened to say that I've committed some serious crimes today that will put me in jail for the rest of my life or lead to death. As some of you know, shortly after I moved to Idaho Falls, I was slandered on Facebook with rumors of me being an undercover police officer. Those rumors were followed by threats, harassment, and more slander. But my main goal was to kill Nick Bird, the founder of the Castaways that started all of this by spreading rumors. He also posted where I work. >> We have him in custody. >> Can you tell us anything about it or >> Well, did anyone get hurt or >> Yes. >> Um the extent we don't know yet. Everything's still under investigation. Um, >> he snapped. >> Yep. Gosh. other than what you found. I just want to leave it here because I want to get a search warrant for face his Facebook profile because it can be it it's kind of weird like people >> their Facebook profiles are considered somewhat private but where you discovered evidence >> you can show me what you discovered and then I kind of have like any further digging in I kind of just will hold off >> and then I'll get a a search warrant. But this is like huge right here. This is huge. like is it do can we get any context of like did he turn itself in or >> um >> but I just can't disclose anything right now. It everything's just still under investigation. >> Um but yeah, we really do appreciate you calling that in and giving that to us. >> Yeah. >> Um >> we just >> if I could tell you more, I definitely would for sure. He's in our off-roading group with us now. And so we're like, we've created this really good bond and all of a sudden he posted this and we're like, >> just kind of out of nowhere, huh? >> Yeah. We're like, >> did you heard you ever heard of this Nick Bird guy? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, this is Yeah. >> A subsequent search of Ben's residence yielded [music] additional 9mm Luger rounds, matching the rounds found at the crime scene and those found in the additional magazines in his truck. [music] Detectives also found higher capacity long guns in their search along with an empty handgun case and a receipt for a 9mm Luger pistol, the same pistol found in Bent's truck. Detectives also found multiple pill bottles containing satellopram, an SSRI used to treat clinical depression, along [music] with marijuana and alcohol, which combined with SSRIs can worsen [music] symptoms of depression and escalate anxiety and paranoia. Mark Bent was charged with first-degree murder and using a deadly weapon in commission of a felony. He was given a public defender and pleaded guilty, [music] but after firing his public defender and hiring a private attorney, he changed his plea to not guilty. During the trial, his attorney argued that Bent felt threatened and [music] harassed by Nick and others in the car group that he frequented. He described Nick and others posting his address and accusing him of being an undercover cop. However, no such evidence was produced during trial. Mark [music] Bent was found guilty of both felonies and given a combined sentence of 45 years to life. He will be [music] 89 years old when he is eligible for parole. >> You know what's more dangerous than thinking everything is AI? Forgetting that behind every post is a real person who never agreed to become content in the first place. Today, that truth belongs to Nicholas Bird. And nothing about this analysis forgets that. Bullet trajectory isn't guesswork. It's physics because bullets don't lie. They travel in lines and leave angles. [music] In this case, we got upward paths back to front wounds and impacts in the pavement. All of it tells a story long after this was over. That science matters because it shows where someone was, how they moved, and if they ever had a chance to respond. I believe when the investigators [music] looked at the angles in Nick's body, they were definitely counting shots where they were also reading positions. Back to front paths mean shots from behind, and pavement strikes say bullets kept moving after the body hit the ground. That isn't randomness. That's a timeline written in angles and blood. Investigations never care about emotions or opinions, and gravity doesn't care about excuses. And bullets never change direction to fit a story, and angles definitely show move. And once you understand that, you realize this isn't about guesswork. It's explaining what someone could no longer say. Now, in the end, Mr. Bent made an accusation that was never proved, but the bullets he used testified in ways he never could. >> My favorite line of the day is, "Kenna, drive us to the hospital." >> I know. And I was like ready to and then they just never shut the doors. And I was like, and then a then a fire guy came up. I got you. And I'm like, no.

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