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A 65-year-old Idaho woman is accused of shooting a man in the leg during a late-night argument, then returning upstairs and falling asleep, according to court documents and local authorities. The case, now moving through Custer County courts, underscores immediate questions about alcohol, firearms and responsibility in small communities.
Police say the incident occurred Saturday night in the Idaho town of Challis. Deputies were dispatched just after 11:20 p.m. after someone at the residence reported a single gunshot.
How authorities say the shooting unfolded
According to the affidavit, the two adults had been drinking together when an argument escalated. The injured man later told investigators he had handed a .380-caliber pistol to the woman and told her to fire; he says she then shot him in the leg.
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Another person at the home did not witness the actual shooting but reported hearing one shot. Officers located the woman asleep upstairs; a pistol was found on the bedroom floor amid visible blood.
Investigators say they also discovered additional blood inside the house, including a bloodied pair of boots near the back door. The woman was transported to the county jail, where officials report she acknowledged firing the weapon.
- Suspect: Diane Wetherbee, 65
- Location: Challis, Idaho
- Alleged weapon: .380 pistol
- Charge: Felony aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon
- Bond: $25,000
- Preliminary hearing: March 30
Legal posture and next steps
Wetherbee is formally charged with aggravated battery, a felony that prosecutors say could carry a prison term if she is convicted. A judge has issued a no-contact order preventing the suspect from approaching the alleged victim as the case proceeds.
Her arrest report and the court filing are both part of the public record; prosecutors will use those materials to determine whether to pursue the case to trial. The upcoming preliminary hearing will be an early procedural step where a judge evaluates whether enough evidence exists to move forward.
Why this matters now
Beyond the criminal case, the episode highlights two immediate public-safety concerns: the dangers of mixing alcohol and firearms, and the procedural challenges small, rural law-enforcement agencies face when responding to violent incidents late at night.
Residents and local officials may watch the case closely because outcomes in such prosecutions can influence community conversations about firearm storage, intoxication-related violence and victim protection orders.
The defendant remains in custody under the posted bond, and court records indicate she faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the charged offense.
