Darin Wall, the bassist of the Seattle-based metal band Greyhawk, said that he was impressed by the camaraderie among regulars at Boise's music venues.
Wall stated that he had never been there but that it felt like a home. The room was filled with joy that night.
Police say that Ethan Byrd (26), who was later identified as Boise police, arrived at the venue after the show had ended. He allegedly started acting aggressively toward concert-goers, and members of the band, police said.
Wall claimed that he saw the man first outside the venue when he began making finger gun motions and pretending to shoot nearly twenty people. The suspect allegedly grabbed a concealed handgun from his pants and got into an altercation with another attendee.
According to a Boise department news release, Byrd was already being sought by police after they received reports of a man with a gun in the area.
Wall claimed that Byrd started pushing Byrd away from the patio, where people were gathered, after he had seen the gun. Byrd pointed the gun at Wall and shot him once in the leg, before running off. Wall's bandmate pulled him aside and put a tourniquet around his leg in an effort to stop the bleeding.
Wall was later informed by doctors that if the bullet had struck Wall an inch to his left, it would have struck his artery, and he might have died.
I did what I believed was right. Wall stated that he wanted to ensure that no one was killed.
Some say Wall saved their lives that night.
Justin Cantrell, who runs the Shredder, stated that he basically stopped (the alleged gunman from entering the premises).
After noticing that Byrd matched the description, police arrested him within minutes. According to police, Byrd was intoxicated and ignored orders, according to a news release. He fled from officers just before being taken into custody.
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A police news release said that he was charged with aggravated battery and use of a deadly weapons, as well as carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence.
Cantrell stated that nothing similar had ever happened at the Shredder on South 10th Street, which caters mostly for heavy metal bands.
Wall was unable to walk during his recovery and has had to learn how to adjust positions. However, he has received a flood of support from the Boise metal scene, as well as messages from others.
He said that the outpouring support from those in the local scene who didn't know me before last night was quite incredible and overwhelming.
Wall said he hopes to be able to recuperate before Greyhawk begins a series of shows later in the month. In a Sunday Facebook post, the band stated that they hope to return to Boise. Wall's medical bills resulting from the incident have been covered by a GoFundMe.
A spokesperson for the Boise Police Department referred the Statesman, upon being reached, to the news release about the shooting. In it, officers described Byrd as confronting the victim before the shots were fired.
This incident occurred just hours after a fatal shooting that took place in Downtown Boise on Sunday morning. For allegedly committing the crime, Timmothy Morgan, 20, was arrested by police.
Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman reporter, contributed reporting to this article.
