Woman Charged With Stealing Gun Belt, Rings From Body of Guard Killed in Mall Shooting
A 54-year-old woman in Idaho has been arrested for allegedly stealing from the body of a security guard killed during a mall shooting, the Associated Press reported.
Boise resident Mary Alyce Scarbrough is charged with alteration of evidence, malicious injury to property and grand theft. The Idaho Statesman reported that she is being held without bail due to accusations of her violating parole from a 2019 drug case. She has a $250,000 bond from the previous charges.
Prosecutors said that Scarbrough stole belongings from security guard Jo Acker, who died during the October 25 shooting at the Boise Towne Square Mall. She allegedly took off with a gun belt, rings, clothing and other items from Acker's body. Afterward, she was accused of damaging an arcade by kicking holes in the walls and tearing off metal sheets.
Rupert resident Roberto Padilla Arguelles was also killed in the shooting while shopping for his family.
The Boise Police Department cites Scarbrough's actions as the result of a mental breakdown and usage of methamphetamine, according to Boise news station KTVB 7.
"A woman experiencing a mental health crisis significantly altered the crime scene by removing and displacing evidence throughout the mall," said police spokeswoman Haley Williams in an email to The Statesman.
Scarbrough pleaded not guilty to disturbing the peace.
To read more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
"The court's very concerned about the alleged conduct in this case," Magistrate Judge David Manweiler said during a court hearing last week.
Court documents list Amy Mitchell as Scarbrough's attorney. Mitchell is also listed as an attorney with the Ada County public defender's office. That office declined to comment Wednesday when contacted by AP.
Police say that minutes later they exchanged gunfire with 27-year-old suspect Jacob Bergquist, who died the next day.
"The defendant approached the dying security guard at the mall," a prosecutor said during Scarbrough's court appearance.
Scarbrough was booked into the Ada County Jail on the day of the shooting on a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge and was in custody when charged with the felony counts.
Newsweek previously reported that six other people were injured in the shooting, with non-life-threatening injuries. The gunfire was recorded on video and originally posted to Snapchat, then eventually made its way to Twitter during the shooting. The video's recorder, 17-year-old Xavier Lugo, was not injured in the shooting. As many as 12 gunshots allegedly rang through the mall.
