Authorities: Twin Falls shooting suspect flees country

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – Authorities say a Twin Falls man awaiting trial following a shooting in a south-central Idaho park has fled the country.

Twin Falls County Deputy Prosecutor Trevor Misseldine at a hearing Monday in 5th District Court said it’s clear that 21-year-old Jesus Hilario Manjares-Contreras left the country.

He’s charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the September 2015 shooting in Harry Barry Park in Twin Falls that wounded another man in the arm.

The Times-News reported that Manjares-Contreras was released from custody in early January after prosecutors sought a delay in the trial because a key witness was missing.

Authorities say his GPS ankle monitor was found in the snow on Jan. 22.

Judge Richard Bevan on Monday placed the case on inactive status pending the return of Manjares-Contreras.