Two suspects are on the loose following a shooting at a Boise, Idaho hospital shortly after 2 am on Wednesday. The suspects include IDOC inmate Skylar Meade, who escaped along with another inmate in a grey Honda Civic with Idaho plates.
Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous.
Police say the second suspect is a bald white male with a possible tattoo of the number 1 near his left eye, a tattoo of the number 11 near his right eye, or both.
According to law enforcement, the incident began as Idaho Department of Correction officers moved Meade to Saint Alphonsus Hospital for medical treatment. An unknown suspect attacked and fired at officers as they were preparing to transport Meade back to a correctional facility.
Two officers were struck by the suspect's gunfire.
The medical facility was placed on lockdown as officers searched for the suspect. A preliminary investigation showed the suspects fled the scene in the grey Honda just prior to Boise Police officers arriving on the scene.
Three correction officers were injured, one officer is in critical and stable condition with a gunshot wound while the suspect officer shot is in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.
A third officer was struck by BPD as they responded to the incident. He received non-life-threatening injuries as well.
"This brazen, violent, and apparently coordinated attack on Idaho Department of Corrections personnel, to facilitate an escape of a dangerous inmate, was carried out right in front of the Emergency Department, where people come for medical help, often in the direst circumstances. When BPD officers responded, they believed the shooter was inside the Emergency Department. They immediately entered to address any potential continued threat to Emergency Room staff. 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 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."
Meade was serving time for aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement and has prior convictions. He was sentenced to 20 years in 2017 for shooting a sheriff's sergeant during a high-speed chase.
He has also been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, and introduction of contraband to a correctional facility.
He had been behind bars since October 2016 and his most recent sentence was set to expire in October 2036.
The Ada County Sheriff's Office is leading the Critical Incident Task Force investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
