Boise, Idaho – Authorities are actively searching for an escaped inmate and another suspect involved in a shooting incident targeting correction officers in Boise, Idaho. The episode, which authorities believe was a meticulously planned escape, unfolded around 2:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday when officers from the Idaho Department of Corrections were in the process of relocating inmate Skylar Meade back to the corrections facility.
According to Boise police, Meade had been temporarily taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for medical treatment before the violent events transpired. Tragically, as officers were preparing to transfer Meade back, an unidentified suspect opened fire on them, injuring two officers – one with non-life-threatening wounds and the other in critical but stable condition.
In a swift attempt to flee the scene, Meade and the suspect were last seen departing in a grey four-door sedan, potentially a Honda Civic, stated the police. Meade, a 31-year-old white male with distinct facial tattoos reading ‘1’ and ’11,’ remains on the run, posing a significant threat to the public and law enforcement.
Responding to the tumultuous encounter at the hospital, Boise officers encountered challenges as the facility was placed on a modified lockdown in light of the shooting. During the chaos, one officer employed defensive measures by firing upon an armed individual at the hospital entrance, later identified as an Idaho Department of Corrections officer suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.
Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar condemned the incident as a “brazen, violent, and apparently coordinated attack” orchestrated to facilitate Meade’s escape. Urging caution, Winegar emphasized the significant danger posed by the suspects and advised the public to contact 911 if any sightings or encounters occur, discouraging personal confrontations.
Notably, Meade, already a convicted felon, was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple criminal charges, including firing at law enforcement during a high-speed chase. Presently considered a known gang member by authorities, further investigations are underway to comprehend the circumstances leading to the escape and locate possible leads on Meade’s whereabouts.
Josh Tewalt, the director of the Department of Corrections, revealed that Meade had exhibited violent conduct within the facility just prior to the incident. As authorities delve deeper into the matter, inquiries are being made regarding the protocols related to inmate transfers, with a focus on hospital emergency room capacities. Additionally, Tewalt disclosed that Meade was held in administrative segregation, the highest level of custody within the Idaho Department of Corrections, based on his behavioral patterns while incarcerated.