Teenager Charged In Murders Of Two Teens In Twin Falls

A Twin Falls teenager charged with killing two other teens 10 days ago reportedly told associates that he had to do it after one of the victims claimed membership in two different California street gangs.

Eric Thomas Ferrier, 18, remained jailed without bond on Tuesday after being formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the March 30 shooting deaths of Walter Jesse Ellison and Jafra Sumaya, both 19, at Sumaya’s Twin Falls apartment.

Each was shot multiple times with a small-caliber gun.

Ferrier is also suspected in the March 27 stabbing of a Cassia County newspaper carrier. Cassia County Sheriff Billy Crystal said investigators believe Ferrier stabbed the 16-year-old boy because he was weaving back and forth in his car to reach roadside newspaper boxes.

Ferrier was arrested on Sunday and denied any involvement in the Twin Falls slayings in interviews with police.

But according to an affidavit written by Twin Falls Police Detective Ike Kistler, Ellison and Ferrier argued about California street gangs outside Sumaya’s apartment several hours before the shootings.

Ferrier left the apartment, enraged that Ellison initially claimed to be with the “North Hollywood White Fence” gang, then later said he was with “Sacramento,” the affidavit said.

“Let’s just go back and kill them,” Ferrier told friends after leaving the apartment, according to the affidavit. Later that morning Ferrier bragged about having shot the pair. He told one friend that he “had done what he had to do,” according to Kistler’s affidavit.

Ferrier said that after shooting Ellison he killed Sumaya because she was a witness, the affidavit said.