FRUITLAND — Matthew and Amelia Parkinson got married Dec. 6 and were living with a relative in Fruitland while they shopped for their own home.

That’s according to Payette County Coroner Keith Schuller, who said the community was shocked by the couple’s deaths this week.

On Wednesday, the Parkinsons were walking down the street when they were struck and killed by a vehicle that veered onto the sidewalk, according to Idaho State Police. Matthew was 22, and Amelia was 17.

Police are investigating the case as a homicide and have arrested Jason Lee Verwer, 37, who most recently lived in Fruitland. As of Thursday, Verwer was being held for a mental health evaluation at an undisclosed location, according to police.

“It was a random act of violence against others, which we see so much of all around the world, but we don’t expect in Fruitland,” said Schuller, who confirmed the victims’ identities.

“This is a small town; people reacted,” he said. “They were yelling at (the driver) ‘You just killed two people. What are you doing? Where are you going?’ and kept on following him, several people.”

Police claim Verwer was driving at a high rate of speed on northbound U.S. Highway 95 and intentionally drove onto the sidewalk and hit the couple.

On Thursday, Ada County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on the victims, which Schuller attended. The cause of death was declared as lethal traumatic blunt force trauma from being struck by the vehicle.

“The two sets of parents decided together to send them to the same funeral home so they can be together as they were in life,” Schuller said.

Schuller said he doesn’t think there is any connection between the couple and Verwer.

According to the Idaho courts repository, Verwer previously faced two counts of child sexual abuse, which were dismissed in Twin Falls County District Court in 2016.