This Idaho clan may have traveled to Arizona to make music in a Walmart parking lot, but police in Cottonwood are still trying to shake off the headaches they caused over the weekend.
The Gaver family, which shot a cop during a colossal weekend brawl, had been living in an SUV parked in front of the big-box store for days, police said. The family was known in Boise for playing music in front of grocery stores in a street band called Matthew 24 Now, KIVI reported.
One member of the Gaver family was killed in a shootout with police, a second was injured and six more — four adults and two children — were arrested after they allegedly attacked officers responding to the Cottonwood Walmart Saturday night, Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
One cop was shot in the leg and the seven other responding officers suffered scrapes and bruises, police said.
Four adults were arrested after the brawl: Peter Gaver, 55; Ruth Gaver, 52; Jeremiah C. Gaver, 28; and Nathaniel Gaver, 27. Two unnamed kids, ages 11 and 15, were also charged and placed in a juvenile detention center.
A seventh family member, David Gaver, was shot in the stomach during the fight, Cottonwood’s Verde Independent reported. He will be charged with aggravated assault when he is released from the hospital, police said.
The eighth family member, Enoch Gaver, was shot and killed in the brawl, police said. Earlier reports suggested nine relatives were involved.
The saga started late Saturday when several of the Gavers, including a woman and a young girl, left their Chevrolet Suburban and went into the men’s room inside the Walmart, KPHO reported. A store employee went to the bathroom to check on the bunch, but at least one of the Gavers shoved her, police said.
The worker called police as the family gathered in the parking lot. When the eight cops pulled up, the Gavers immediately attacked, police said.
Sgt. Jeremy Daniels, a 10-year force veteran, was shot in the leg during the struggle.The 31-year-old was airlifted to a hospital and is expected to recover, police said. A Walmart employee who tried to intervene also suffered a broken arm.
Police aren’t sure why the Boise family was in Cottonwood, which is about 100 miles north of Phoenix. They had been living in the Walmart parking lot for a few days before the battle with police.
The family formed its band at least three years ago in Idaho, according to Matthew 24 Now’s Facebook page.
“We won’t do any events where there’s gonna be illegal drugs. Or any form of promiscuity,” the family band wrote.
The four arrested Gaver adults are being held on bonds between $25,000 and $75,000.
With News Wire Services
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