Brandon Lee Madden dies in fatal Bannock County shooting
Fatal Bannock County shooting death of Brandon Lee Madden – Obituary
Brandon Lee Madden, 40, and his sister Amanda Ann Christian, 36, both from Pocatello, were fatally shot Friday afternoon near the border of Bannock and Power counties, west of Chubbuck. The siblings were caught in the middle of their parents’ bitter divorce, which had intensified in the days leading up to the tragedy.
According to the Bannock County Coroner’s Office, the gunman, who was later killed by law enforcement, opened fire on the group around 2:40 p.m. near Tank Farm and Batiste roads. Three other individuals were injured during the incident, including Amanda Christian’s husband, Matt, who was shot in the leg, and two unrelated boaters on the Portneuf River—one sustaining a shoulder wound and another suffering a graze to the head. The injured were transported to Portneuf Medical Center, with one boater remaining hospitalized in stable condition.
The suspect targeted both the boaters and responding officers before being shot and killed by authorities. No law enforcement personnel were hurt during the confrontation.
Family members described the loss as sudden and devastating. Relative Jocelyn Baker established a GoFundMe campaign, highlighting Madden as a devoted father of five and central figure in the family, while noting Amanda was also tragically taken. Baker said the family is focusing on honoring the siblings before engaging in further interviews.
In the days prior to the shooting, Amanda had shared public posts on Facebook related to her parents’ contentious divorce. Court records show that a final decree for Lee and Cindy Madden’s divorce was issued just four days before the attack. Both siblings had been involved in disputes over property and legal matters tied to the divorce, with Amanda acting as her father’s power of attorney and Brandon residing on property central to the case.
Exchanges of messages and formal notices indicate tensions escalated sharply regarding access to family assets in the days before the shooting. Videos posted by Amanda in early April documented confrontations with her mother, highlighting the intensity of the family conflict.
The ongoing investigation involves the Power County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, and Bannock and Bingham counties, with Idaho Falls Police leading the officer-involved shooting review. Officials confirmed there is no continuing threat to the community, and roads previously closed have since reopened.
The GoFundMe campaign for the Madden siblings has raised approximately $1,400 toward a $20,000 goal, with contributions also accepted via Venmo at @mimi_lynn22.