An Idaho police officer on Monday shot a man in his own garden after confusing him with the alleged investigation by authorities and who believed they were armed, officials say.
The Washington Post reports that Idaho Falls police officers were looking for Tanner JN Shoesmith, 22, when an officer following him shot a man who partially matched his description.
According to the Post, the man who was shot dead has not yet been identified and his family has requested that his name not be publicly shared.
The officer who shot the man in the back garden has been put on administrative leave and the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Working Group (CITF) will conduct an investigation into the incident.
According to one statement of Idaho Falls police, the incident began when an officer tried to stop traffic. After stretching, a man fled the car on foot and was described as wearing a black T-shirt.
While searching for the man, police officers identified him as Shoesmith and found that there were several orders for his arrest, including a battery offense and two not filed.
Shoesmith allegedly shared his GPS location with another person in the car who fled, which police officers used to locate him. After determining that Shoesmith was located in a nearby garden, police approached and surrounded the residence.
As they approached the backyard, officers reportedly heard screams and saw a man in a black shirt holding a handgun. Officers told the man to drop the weapon, according to the statement.
“We don’t currently have the answers on what exactly happened during those times,” said Bryce Johnson, Idaho Falls police chief. “We know that during this interaction, an Idaho Falls police officer unloaded the service weapon by firing a shot that struck the man. Officers tried to save his life, but were unsuccessful. ’emergency of the Idaho Falls fire brigade also responded and could not provide any assistant who could save the man’s life.’
After the shooting of the unidentified man, officers saw another man running nearby. Shoesmith was reportedly found under cover of a nearby residence and arrested. According to Idaho Falls police, the entire incident, from the traffic stop to Shoesmith’s arrest, occurred in about 20 minutes.
“There are no words to express the weight our hearts carry today,” Johnson said. “This situation is devastating for the family, for the agent and for those who love and care for them. We all feel the weight of what has happened today. Our sincere sympathies are with the family and friends of those involved, especially the family of the deceased. “