Idaho Man Fatally Shot In Backyard By Officer Who Mistook Him For An Armed Suspect

A man was shot and killed by an Idaho Falls Police officer in his own backyard on Monday after being mistaken for an armed suspect.

A deputy from Bonneville County Sheriff's Office pulled over a vehicle on Monday night. Although it stopped, one of its passengers fled on foot and ran in the direction of a residential area, a news release from Idaho Falls police said.

The deputy broadcasted the description of the man who had fled and the direction he was going to, prompting a number of Idaho Falls Police officers and Bonneville County Sheriff's deputies to enter the neighborhood and go after the suspect.

The police soon identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tanner J.N. Shoesmith, who had multiple warrants for arrest and a history of violent interactions with law enforcement. Charges against him included felony battery on an officer and providing false information to law enforcement, reported NBC news.

During the search, a resident informed the officers that he had seen the armed suspect run through his yard.

The other passenger of the vehicle, who remained to talk to the police officers, received a text message from the suspect. Using the message, the police were able to track the suspect. They identified a particular backyard in the neighborhood as his current GPA location.

The officers surrounded the said backyard and had their service weapons drawn as they were expecting an armed suspect with a history of violence.

The officers soon heard yelling and approached an armed man wearing a black shirt. The officers reportedly instructed the man to drop his weapon.

"We do not currently have the answers as to what exactly occurred during these moments," Idaho Police Chief Bryce Johnson said. "We do know that during this interaction, an Idaho Falls Police Officer discharged his service weapon firing one shot which struck the man. Officers attempted life-saving measures but they were unsuccessful. Emergency medical personnel from the Idaho Falls Fire Department also responded and were also unable to provide any lifesaving aide to the man."

The police eventually identified the man who had been shot as a resident of the property. They also found out that the slain man had tried to arrest the actual suspect who was hiding in a shed in the backyard of a nearby residence.

The officer involved in the shooting is currently placed on administrative leave as part of the standard procedure. The officer was wearing a department-issued body camera, which was activated during the time period that the shooting occurred. However, the authorities have not released the footage of the incident.

The officials have also not released the names of the people involved in the incident. An independent investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force has already been initiated.

"There are no words to express how heavy our hearts are today," Chief Johnson said. "This situation is devastatingly tragic for the family, for the officer, and those that love and care about them. We all feel the weight of what has occurred today. Our sincere sympathies are with the family and friends of those involved, most especially the family of the deceased."