Update:
Boise Police have identified the second suspect in the shooting that left three IDOC officers injured and an IDOC inmate on the run.
Officials say Nicholas Umphenour is wanted for firing shots at IDOC officers and helping inmate Skylar Meade escape.
Umphenour is 5'11" and about 160 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes.
Boise PD is looking for a Grey 2020 Honda Civic with license plate 2TDF43U.
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Officers are looking for two "armed and dangerous" suspects after a 2:15 a.m. shooting in the ambulance bay of Saint Alphonsus in what Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar called “a coordinated attack" and an "ambush on officers”.
Ultimately an IDOC inmate escaped with a second suspect, and three IDOC officers were injured by gunfire.
Officials say IDOC inmate Skylar Meade was exhibiting "self-injurious behavior" Tuesday night around 9:30 p.m. that needed emergency medical attention. Three IDOC officers transported Meade to Saint Alphonsus where he was treated.
As Meade and officers were exiting the hospital around 2:15 a.m. preparing to transport Meade back to the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC), an unknown suspect fired shots at the officers, striking two of them. The identity of the alleged shooter is still unknown.
The two suspects left Saint Alphonsus in a gray 4-door sedan, believed to be a Honda Civic with Idaho plates, shortly before BPD officers arrived on the scene.
As BPD crews arrived in response to calls of an active shooter, one officer fired his weapon at an armed individual near the entrance, who was later determined to be an IDOC employee. He was not seriously injured and is receiving treatment for his injuries.
Police Chief Ron Winegar said during a Wednesday press conference that Skylar Meade is a documented member of the Aryan Knights gang. Among his tattoos are the number 1 and number 11 on his cheeks.
While in custody, Meade was in administrative segregation, a form of restrictive housing for inmates who are a danger to others and themselves.
"There is not a higher level of custody that we manage," IDOC Director Josh Tewalt said. “It’s a classification that’s earned by [an inmate's] behavior while in custody.”
Meade has been convicted of several crimes including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement and has prior convictions including felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility. He has been incarcerated since October 2016 and his most recent sentence was set to end October 2036.
The hospital was briefly placed on lockdown but has since resumed normal operations and all patients and staff are safe.
“I am grateful this harrowing incident did not result in loss of life, and we are monitoring the wounded IDOC officers with great hope for a full and speedy recovery of all involved,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “We caution anyone who may have contact with the suspects involved in this violent attack and escape to call 911 immediately and not confront them personally. They are armed, dangerous, and have shown they are willing to use extreme violence in furtherance of their criminal activity.”
In total, three IDOC officers were injured. One officer, shot by the suspect is in critical but stable condition. The second officer shot by the suspect has serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The third IDOC officer was injured during gunfire from a responding BPD officer and received non-life-threatening injuries.
If you know anything about the situation, please call Ada County Dispatch at (208) 377-6790.
