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Face of a killer?

by KEITH COUSINS/Staff writer
| March 26, 2014 9:00 PM

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<p>Officers with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department use a pry bar to force open the door of a camper in the front yard of a home at 1311 N. First Street Monday after being dispatched to a shooting call at the Coeur d’Alene home. Authorities confirmed two fatalities at the residence that is located near the St. Vincent de Paul HELP Center.</p>

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<p>The suspect in a double murder is driven away in the back of a Coeur d’Alene Police Department squad car after authorities responded to the scene at 1311 N. First Street Monday night. Eldon G. Samuel III, 14, was booked on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his father and younger brother.</p>

COEUR d'ALENE - Detectives say the teen charged with killing his father and brother in Coeur d'Alene told them he had "mentally prepared himself" for the alleged double homicide for eight months.

Eldon Samuel III, 14, was charged as an adult Tuesday in Kootenai County court. He faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his father, Eldon G. Samuel, Jr., 46, and his younger brother, Jonathan Samuel, 13. Bail was set at $1 million.

Police records show the boy called in the report himself at 9:09 p.m. Monday and told the police dispatcher that he had shot and killed his brother and father.

Samuel was apprehended without incident at the home, 1311 N. First St., and taken to the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, where he was interviewed by a detective.

The report states that Samuel said his father, who "often beats him," had been taking medication on Monday evening while "talking about zombies." Samuel's father allegedly fired a shot outside the home before going back into the house. Samuel told investigators that the two then began fighting inside the house, and after his father pushed him twice, he fired at the man's stomach with a .45 caliber handgun.

Samuel told the investigator that he shot his father three more times, twice in the cheek and once in the "brain." Still, he said, his father wasn't dead.

According to the report, the father then attempted to crawl to Jonathan's room. The 13-year-old boy, who Samuel allegedly said "he hated," was hiding under a bed and refused to come out when Samuel ordered him out of the room. Samuel told investigators he then used a shotgun to shoot his hiding brother four times.

Samuel said he then set the weapon aside, picked up a "large knife" and stabbed Jonathan "numerous times." Samuel told the detective that Jonathan still appeared to be alive after the stabbing, which prompted him to use a machete to strike Jonathan approximately 30 times.

The report said that Samuel briefly spoke to the detective about the popular video game "Grand Theft Auto V," stating that out of the three character choices the game gives players, he always chooses "Trevor" - a character who "has anger issues and often shoots other characters in the game."

"Eldon thinks Trevor is 'kinda cool,'" the report states.

During the interview, the detective said Samuel did not show any remorse for the murders.

Samuel made his first court appearance Tuesday via closed-circuit television from the Kootenai County Public Safety Building.

When Judge Robert Burton was done reading the boy his rights, Burton asked Samuel if he understood. The pale youth, handcuffed and dressed in a baggy, dark blue prison jumpsuit, silently nodded.

Burton said that Samuel would need to speak when answering questions, which prompted him to whisper "yes" at a barely audible level.

Both first-degree murder charges were then read to Samuel, with Burton stating that both of the alleged murders were premeditated.

Samuel whispered "yes" after each of the charges were read, and told Burton that he would wait to speak with his public defender before entering a plea.

Sgt. Christie Wood said in a press release that the Samuel family had recently relocated to Coeur d'Alene from California. The home on First Street where they were staying is owned by St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho and used as an emergency shelter.

Jeff Conroy, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, told The Press Tuesday that the family moved into the house approximately three months ago and were in the process of moving out.

"This incident is the first of its kind in our 68-year history," Conroy said in a press release. "We are surprised to learn of the weapons that were used in this crime, as they are prohibited in all our programs."

Laura Rumpler, director of communication for the Coeur d'Alene School District, said that both Samuel and his brother, Jonathan, were enrolled in district schools. Samuel attended Lakes Magnet Middle School and Jonathan attended Canfield Middle School.

The school district has mobilized its crisis assistance team, and both schools will have counselors and administrators available to meet with students and staff throughout the week.

Judge Burton said a preliminary hearing will be held sometime in the next two weeks.