NAMPA — A small airplane crashed into the backyard of a residence Sunday afternoon, killing three people, including a 23-month-old toddler.

The victims were all onboard the plane when it crashed in Nampa, a city west of Boise. No bystanders were hurt and there was minimal damage to the trees, fence and house near the crash site.

The Nampa Police Department responded to reports of a plane crash at 5:41 p.m. Sunday on the 200 block of North Venice Street, according to an NPD press release. The block encompasses a modest neighborhood just west of the Nampa Municipal Airport between downtown and Interstate 84.

The plane took off from the Nampa Municipal Airport, which is about a mile east of the crash site.

The plane hit an unoccupied outbuilding in the backyard of a residential home.

“My heart grieves for those who tragically lost their life. Our thoughts and prayers are with their extended family during this difficult time,” Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling said in the Sunday NPD release.

Two of the victims died at the scene. The third victim died after being taken to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. He was publicly identified Monday by the Ada County Coroner’s Office as 23-month-old Paxton LeRoy, of Eagle. His cause of death was determined to be traumatic blunt force injuries, the coroner’s office said.

Around 7:20 p.m. Monday, the Canyon County Coroner’s Office identified the adult victims of the plane crash as Jestene Leroy, age 30, and Brandon Leroy, age 43. Both sustained multiple blunt force injuries.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time,” said Jennifer Crawford, Canyon County coroner, in a news release.

While it hasn’t been confirmed, those interviewed by the Idaho Press indicated that the victims were a young family.

The NPD release stated that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board would be investigating the incident.

The plane seemingly nosedived into the ground shortly after departing from the airport. According to an FAA report, the crash occurred during the aircraft’s initial climb.

A knock on the front door of the residence where the crash took place was not answered.

Nampa resident JD Southern lives nearby on Garrity Boulevard and said the crash wasn’t loud enough to distinguish among the noise from traffic. He only saw the crash after a friend called asking if he was OK.

“I walked out the back and that’s when I saw the crash,” Southern wrote in a message to the Idaho Press. “You can tell by the backyard of the house that it came in like a lawn dart. The trees don’t even show damage.”

The plane was a Mooney M20, a four-seat, propeller-driven aircraft. According to the FAA’s registry, the plane is over 40 years old. It was recently certified for flight in February 2024.

According to FlightAware, the plane spent a few minutes in the air, making it two miles before crashing.

Following the crash, nearby residents were quickly on the scene, looking to help. Neighbor Hannah Brown was just pulling into her driveway when a neighbor told her about the accident.

“It’s devastating, scary, and makes your stomach turn knowing a family got wiped out,” Brown wrote in a message. “I feel horrible for the family who lost three in a matter of minutes.”

Brown has lived near the airport for over two decades and can’t remember any incidents like the crash.

“Never once have I seen or heard of a plane crashing so close to home,” Brown wrote. “It’s surreal.”

Nampa native James Jacobsen visited the site of the crash Monday. Jacobsen previously worked at Boeing for 23 years as a tool design organizer.

“This doesn’t happen here in the (Treasure Valley) very often. I was born here in 1964 and this is the first time I’ve seen an airplane crash in Nampa,” Jacobsen said. “It’s just very surreal. I guess no city is too small to have something like this happen. It’s just very tragic that three people lost their lives.”

Health care worker Jason Jenkins, also visiting the crash scene Monday, said he lives a few miles away. Jenkins also knew one of the victims.

“There’s a saying that ‘trauma is a disease of the young people,’” Jenkins said. “And it strikes a community especially hard when it happens to young, vibrant folks who are a part of our friends and family.”