Investigators say the accused driver told police he was impatient before the shooting.
POST FALLS, Idaho — A routine DoorDash delivery of baby formula became part of a murder case after police say the driver shot Bradley Allen Rex during a crowded road dispute near Stateline Speedway.
The delivery detail stands out because of how ordinary it was. Edsel Robert Johnson, 32, told detectives he was working as a DoorDash driver and trying to deliver baby formula when he reached traffic tied to the Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival on May 9. Prosecutors say the encounter ended with Rex dead and Johnson facing first-degree murder, reckless driving and battery charges. The case has moved from a delivery route to a Kootenai County courtroom.
Johnson’s account to police began after the shot, investigators said. Court documents say he called dispatch and reported that he had shot someone. He told authorities the man had been hitting his van and said he did not want to shoot him but had “stuff to do.” Detectives later asked Johnson about the moments before the gunfire. He said he was impatient in the festival traffic and reacted poorly when Rex came up to the van and grabbed the door, according to court records. Police said Johnson admitted shooting Rex, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The route took Johnson to North Beck Road near Stateline Speedway, where a large crowd had gathered for the lantern festival. Sheriff’s deputies and Post Falls police officers were already nearby because of the event. Witnesses told investigators Johnson’s silver van was moving the wrong way on Beck Road while the driver honked at people and vehicles. Some pedestrians and cars moved out of the way. Rex did not. Rex’s wife told deputies her husband was trying to protect bystanders from the van. The court filings do not say Rex was armed.
The baby formula delivery did not become a defense by itself in the public record. Instead, it helped explain why Johnson said he was in the area and why he wanted to keep moving. Investigators focused on his driving through a crowded road, the confrontation with Rex and the decision to use a gun. The sheriff’s office said the shooting grew out of a dispute involving people at the event and the suspect trying to drive through the crowded area. Officials said Johnson was detained as he was leaving in a vehicle, and there was no ongoing threat to the public after his detention.
DoorDash is part of the factual background but not the criminal defendant. The charges are against Johnson. Court documents described him as a DoorDash driver, and he told investigators he was transient. The public filings reviewed in news reports do not show that DoorDash controlled the traffic route, the encounter or Johnson’s alleged decision to fire. The criminal case centers on Johnson’s conduct and state of mind. Prosecutors are expected to use the alleged “stuff to do” statement to argue that impatience and disregard for others shaped the moments before the shooting.
Rex’s role is described through witnesses, especially his wife. Investigators say she saw the encounter and told deputies he was acting to keep others safe. Her statement gives prosecutors a human account of the roadway scene and explains why Rex may have approached the van. Other witnesses described the vehicle’s path and the crowd’s reaction. Together, those accounts support the reckless driving charge and help place the shooting in context. Defense lawyers may argue that Rex’s approach to the van affected Johnson’s perception of danger. That question will belong to the court, not the crowd that watched the aftermath.
The case escalated quickly after Johnson’s arrest. He was booked after the May 9 shooting and later appeared in court by video. First District Judge James Combo set bail at $2 million and said Johnson posed a significant risk to public safety. The judge ordered no contact with Rex’s family. Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen said the facts alleged in court would not be justified under Idaho law. Mortensen also said prosecutors had not decided whether to seek the death penalty, a possibility tied to the first-degree murder count.
Prosecutors later filed an amended charge adding battery. The amended count accuses Johnson of willfully and unlawfully using force or violence against Rex. That addition gave the case three tracks: the alleged killing, the alleged dangerous driving and the alleged unlawful force. Preliminary hearings were held later in May as the case continued through its early stages. A preliminary hearing does not decide guilt. It allows a judge to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence for the charges to continue toward later proceedings.
The public record leaves some issues open. It does not give a full second-by-second account of the van’s movement through the crowd. It does not say how many videos investigators have collected, though witness descriptions have been reported. It does not show a final decision on capital punishment. It does not show a trial date. Those unknowns matter because they may shape motions, plea talks or a trial. Prosecutors must prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt, and Johnson’s defense can challenge the evidence and the meaning of his statements.
The Kootenai County shooting has become a case about a short trip, a blocked road and a deadly choice. A baby formula delivery put Johnson near the speedway. A public festival put thousands of people around the same road. Rex’s wife told police he acted to protect bystanders. Johnson told police he had been impatient. The next stage remains in Kootenai County court, where the evidence from North Beck Road will determine how the charges move forward.
Author note: Last updated June 4, 2026.