In a shocking incident that unfolded early Wednesday morning, three corrections officers were ambushed and shot while attempting to transport an inmate, Skylar Meade, from Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, back to prison.
The incident, which took place at approximately 2:15 a.m. local time, was part of a coordinated escape attempt involving Meade and an unknown suspect, Nicholas Umphenour, who was later identified as the shooter.
The officers were preparing to leave with Meade, who had been taken to the medical center for treatment following an incident of “self-injurious behavior” at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. The ambush was a brazen attempt to free Meade from custody, leading to a manhunt that is still ongoing.
The inmate, Skylar Meade, is a documented member of the white supremacist gang the Aryan Knights and has a history of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement. His most recent sentence was set to end in 2036, and he was incarcerated since October 2016.
(1/3) An officer-involved shooting investigation is underway after an incident at Saint Alphonsus early this morning. Officers have secured the scene. Boise Police are looking for two outstanding suspects traveling in a grey four-door sedan, possibly a Honda Civic with ID plates. pic.twitter.com/Km3mdKw7XP
— Boise PD (@BoisePD) March 20, 2024
Meade is known for his distinctive tattoos, including the numbers “1” and “11” on his face, which are references to the Aryan Knights gang. The escape attempt and subsequent ambush were carried out in a grey 2020 Honda Civic with license plate 2TDF43U, believed to be the vehicle used by the suspects.
The officers involved in the incident sustained varying degrees of injuries. One officer, shot by Umphenour, is in critical but stable condition, while another officer, also shot by Umphenour, has serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The third officer, who was injured by responding Boise police officers, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The hospital was locked down during the incident, and the emergency department is currently under temporary lockdown as the Boise Police Department completes its investigation.
The manhunt for Umphenour and Meade is ongoing, with residents advised not to approach them but to call 911 or the Ada County Dispatch. The vehicle used by the suspects is believed to be a grey 2020 Honda Civic with license plate 2TDF43U. Both men are considered armed and dangerous, and the public is urged to keep an eye out for the vehicle but not to engage with the men.
The incident has raised concerns about the security of hospitals and medical centers, which have been struggling to adapt to the threats posed by such incidents. As a result, the medical center has increased security measures, including closing all entrances and monitoring them with hospital security until further notice.
This incident underscores the challenges faced by correctional facilities and medical centers in ensuring the safety of both staff and inmates, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures and protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
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Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by 247 News Around The World
