The Idaho Department of Correction reported that both suspects are still on the loose after an early morning “ambush.”
Skylar Meade, an inmate from the Idaho Department of Correction, was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise for unexpected medical treatment. According to authorities, as correction officers were getting ready to transport him back to prison at around 2:15 a.m. local time, an individual assaulted the officers and discharged a firearm. The incident took place in Boise, as stated by the police.
According to the police, one officer is currently in critical but stable condition, while the other officer sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the Boise Police, an armed individual, who was later identified as an Idaho Department of Correction officer, was shot by a Boise officer in the hospital’s emergency department. The Boise officer responded to reports of an active shooter and fired at the armed individual near the entrance. Thankfully, the correction officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently receiving treatment.
The police conducted a search of the area for the shooting suspect, leading to a temporary lockdown of the hospital in Boise. According to authorities, it was later discovered that Meade and his accomplice had already fled in a gray Honda Civic before the officers arrived.
“This attack on Idaho Department of Corrections personnel, aimed at assisting the escape of a dangerous inmate, was brazen, violent, and seemingly coordinated. It occurred right in front of the Emergency Department, a place where people seek medical help, often during dire circumstances,” stated Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. He expressed gratitude that no lives were lost during this harrowing incident and expressed hope for a full and speedy recovery for the injured IDOC officers.”
The police have identified the shooting suspect as Nicholas Umphenour, who is reportedly an “associate” of Meade. According to authorities, there is now a warrant for Umphenour’s arrest on two counts of aggravated battery against law enforcement and one count of aiding and abetting an escape. The bond set for the warrant is $2 million.
According to authorities, the police are currently unaware of the whereabouts of the two suspects.
“We are diligently searching, actively pursuing every lead that comes our way,” Winegar informed reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon. He described the situation as a “fast-paced and evolving incident.”
“I believe they could be anywhere by now,” he later expressed.
Josh Tewalt, the director of the Idaho Department of Correction, informed reporters that they are currently conducting an investigation into the planning of the attack and are actively trying to identify any other individuals who may have assisted Meade in his escape.
On Tuesday night, the inmate exhibited self-injurious behavior, leading the prison medical staff to conclude that he required off-site medical attention, according to Tewalt.
According to police and Idaho Department of Correction records, Meade, who is 31 years old, was incarcerated at a maximum security prison in Kuna. He was convicted of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement. His sentence was set to end in October 2036, with the possibility of parole in October 2026.
Meade has been in prison since October 2016 and has previous convictions, which include felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, according to the police.
If you have had any contact with the two suspects, please call 911 immediately, as authorities are urging the public to do so.
According to Winegar, these individuals are equipped with weapons, pose a significant threat, and have demonstrated their readiness to resort to extreme violence to advance their criminal pursuits.
Authorities described Meade as a white man who stands at 5-foot-6 and weighs 150 pounds. He has hazel eyes and brown hair, along with tattoos on his arms, chest, calf, abdomen, and face. These tattoos include the number one on one side of his face and the number 11 on the other side, which is believed to be a reference to the Aryan Knights prison gang, as stated by Winegar.
Umphenour, according to authorities, stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs approximately 160 lbs. He has brown hair and captivating hazel eyes.
After the lockdown, the hospital has returned to its regular operations.
The officer shooting is currently under investigation by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, according to Boise police.
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