Meridian was shaken Sunday afternoon when Israel Castrejon Trejo, a 27-year-old man from Nampa, was gunned down near a McDonald’s just off Interstate 84. Police say the shooting followed a heated road rage dispute that ended in sudden, deadly violence in a busy commercial area.
Authorities said the incident unfolded near 195 E. Central Ave., close to the Meridian exit of I-84. Multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunfire around 12:39 p.m. Officers rushed to the scene and found Trejo suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot area near the restaurant.
According to the Ada County Coroner’s Office, first responders tried lifesaving measures, but Trejo died at the scene. He was officially pronounced dead at 4:38 p.m. on Sunday. The coroner publicly identified him on Tuesday, confirming he was a resident of Nampa whose life ended abruptly in the confrontation.
Police say the suspect, Jacob Streat, 23, also of Nampa, was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Investigators allege Streat fired more than a dozen rounds during the encounter. Officers said Trejo was unarmed when they arrived.
Meridian police believe the conflict began earlier on the road and escalated after both vehicles, a silver 2023 Toyota Tacoma and a blue 2009 Honda Accord, exited Interstate 84 and ended up near the McDonald’s. Witnesses told officers the argument intensified quickly, leaving little time for anyone nearby to react.
Streat now faces a charge of second-degree murder. Prosecutors have described the shooting as extreme and violent, arguing that Streat poses a public safety risk. His bond was set at $2 million, and he is scheduled for arraignment on Monday as the case moves forward.
Investigators say the shooting appears to be an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses, along with witness statements and physical evidence, to piece together the exact moments leading up to the gunfire.
For Trejo’s family and friends, the loss is deeply personal. Those who knew him say his death leaves a painful void and stands as a stark reminder of how quickly anger on the road can turn fatal. Police continue to urge drivers to avoid confrontations and report dangerous behavior instead of engaging.
