[ad_1]
An Idaho police officer shot dead a man in his own backyard on Monday after mistaking him for a suspect officials were looking for and believed to be armed, officials said.
The Washington Post reports that Idaho Falls cops were looking for Tanner JN Shoesmith, 22, when a policeman following him shot a man who partially matched his description.
The man who was fatally shot has not yet been identified, reports the Post, and his family have requested that his name not be publicly disclosed.
The officer who shot the man in his backyard has been placed on administrative leave and the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) will investigate the incident.
According to a declaration Idaho Falls Police Department, the incident began when an officer attempted to make a road stop. After stopping, a man fled from the car on foot and was described as wearing a black t-shirt.
When searching for the man, police identified him as Shoesmith and discovered that there were several arrest warrants against his arrest, including a felony battery and two non-appearance warrants.
Shoesmith reportedly shared his GPS location with another person in the car he fled, which police then used to locate him. After determining that Shoesmith was located in a nearby backyard, police approached and surrounded the residence.
As they approached the backyard, officers reportedly heard screams and saw a man in a black shirt holding a gun. Officers told the man to drop the gun, the statement said.
“We don’t currently have the answers on what exactly happened during those times,” Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson said. “We know that during this interaction an Idaho Falls police officer discharged his duty rifle, firing a shot that hit the man. Officers attempted rescue measures, but they failed. Idaho Falls Fire Department emergency medics also responded and were also unable to provide life-saving assistance to the man.
After the unidentified man was shot, officers saw another man running nearby. A shoe maker was reportedly found in the hangar of a nearby residence and arrested. The entire incident, from stopping traffic to the arrest of Shoesmith, happened in about 20 minutes, according to Idaho Falls police.
“There are no words to express how heavy our hearts are today,” Johnson said. “This situation is terribly tragic for the family, for the officer and for those who love and care for them. We all feel the weight of what happened today. Our sincere sympathies go out to the family and friends of those involved, especially the family of the deceased.
[ad_2]
Source link