Twin Falls Shooting Suspect Turns Himself In, Faces Multiple Felony Charges
A Twin Falls man wanted in connection with a shooting and high-speed chase that prompted a shelter-in-place order last month is now in custody after turning himself in to authorities.
Jacob Bellus, 32, surrendered Wednesday afternoon, more than six weeks after the April 5 incident that sent law enforcement scrambling across a Twin Falls neighborhood. The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the surrender.
What Happened on April 5
According to court documents, deputies were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. to the area near 3125 North and 3500 East following reports of shots fired. The shooting reportedly grew out of a dispute conducted over text messages between Bellus and the homeowner at that address. A vehicle was struck by gunfire during the incident, though no injuries were reported.
When a deputy located the suspected vehicle — described in court records as a cream-colored 1990 GMC Jimmy — and attempted a traffic stop, Bellus accelerated and fled. The brief pursuit ended near Beno Street and Highland Avenue, where Bellus abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot.
Twin Falls County authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area while a SWAT team, K-9 unit, and drone operators searched for the suspect. The search was called off without locating Bellus, and he remained at large until his surrender Wednesday.
Charges and Court Appearance
Bellus now faces charges of discharging a firearm, aggravated assault, malicious injury to property, and fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle. He appeared in felony magistrate court Thursday afternoon for an initial hearing and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 29. A judge set his bond at $500,000.
The April incident drew significant attention in the community, as the shelter-in-place order affected residents in the area during the nighttime search. Public safety incidents of this nature have kept Twin Falls County law enforcement active in recent weeks — crews also responded to a house fire in Twin Falls and a fatal motorcycle crash near the city in separate incidents.
What Comes Next
Bellus is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge on May 29 for his preliminary hearing, at which point the court will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial on the felony charges. With bond set at $500,000, he is expected to remain in custody pending that proceeding. The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office has not publicly commented on what prompted Bellus to surrender when he did.