COCOLALLA — Cryptic remarks made by a suspect in a felony eluding case in Kootenai County sparked a homicide investigation in Bonner County early Monday morning.

James Michael Costello Sr. was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following the pursuit, which prompted investigators in Bonner County to conduct a welfare check on James Michael Costello Jr.

“He was found deceased,” Det. Phil Stella said of the younger Costello. “James Costello Jr. was shot multiple times.”

Stella said the father and son were living in a converted bus on parked on property in the 2700 block of Cocolalla Loop Road.

“He’s our main suspect,” Stella said of the elder Costello, who is 71 or 72 years old, according to a partial date of birth listed on Idaho’s iCourt website.

James Costello Jr. was either 39 or 40 years old at the time of his death, according to his partial date of birth.

Stella said investigators recovered several weapons during the investigation, although he said it remains unclear if the recovered firearms were used in the shooting, which investigators said took place late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Sheriff’s officials kept mum about the homicide partly because the main suspect was taken into custody on the Kootenai County charges.

“There was no danger to the public,” Stella said.

Stella said James Costello Jr.’s slaying is the seventh murder in Bonner County in the last two years.

A preliminary hearing on a misdemeanor driving under the influence and felony eluding charge in the elder Costello’s case is set for Nov. 23.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.