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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Idaho law officers have identified the victims of an apparent Wednesday morning murder-suicide just west of the Wyoming border in Star Valley as Christopher Moon, 43, and his wife, Cassandra Moon, 23.

Christopher Moon shot himself as law officers arrived at the scene and contacted him by phone, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office in Bonneville County, Idaho.

“At 8:06 am Bonneville County Dispatchers received a 911 call from a man indicating he just shot his wife,” the statement reads. Christopher Moon identified himself, “indicated he had a gun and was going to take his own life,” the statement reads.

“Moments later Christopher was observed using the gun to shoot himself.”

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriffs’ deputies from Bonneville County, Idaho, and Lincoln County Wyoming, including a SWAT team, responded to the call, said Sgt. Bryan Lovell, a spokesman for the Idaho county’s sheriff’s office. They found two vehicles parked on Jack Knife Road less than a mile west of the state border.

“Deputies established brief contact with Christopher over the phone, attempting to convince him to surrender peacefully,” the statement reads. “Moments later Christopher was observed using the gun to shoot himself.”

No other people were at the scene or involved, the department said.

Deputies from the two counties closed the area about 2.5 miles northwest of the town Etna, Wyoming, for much of the day.

Jack Knife Road, a rural lane, becomes Creamery Road where it enters Wyoming. The scene is north of the hamlet of Freedom and south of Alpine.

Witnesses posted accounts on social media describing numerous police vehicles racing to the scene, including trailers. Lovell told East Idaho News that several dozen law officers responded. One photograph posted by the news site showed a heavy, military style vehicle marked “Rescue” at the scene.The Star Valley Independent reported that the Thayne Elementary School took safety precautions by implementing a “secure” procedure for a short period.

Angus M. Thuermer Jr. is the natural resources reporter for WyoFile. He is a veteran Wyoming reporter and editor with more than 35 years experience in Wyoming. Contact him at angus@wyofile.com or (307)...

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