BINGHAM COUNTY, ID — Late on the night of August 19, an attempted theft in a rural area east of Shelley turned violent when a homeowner and an intruder exchanged gunfire, leaving both men injured and prompting a police search that ended in an officer-involved shooting.
According to a joint release from the Bingham and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Offices, deputies were dispatched around 11:00 p.m. to the area of 1300 E. and 1100 N. following a report of gunshots. The caller stated that a homeowner had confronted a suspect trying to steal a 4-wheeler from their property. During the confrontation, both the homeowner and the suspect were shot. The suspect then fled the scene on foot.
Deputies from Bingham County responded quickly and called for backup from surrounding law enforcement agencies, including officers from Shelley and Blackfoot Police Departments, Idaho State Police, and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency medical personnel transported the injured homeowner to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. His injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.
A perimeter was established around the area, and a search ensued for the suspect, who was believed to be armed and wounded. Deputies from both Bingham and Bonneville Counties located the suspect in a nearby field. During the encounter, shots were fired by deputies, fatally striking the suspect. Officers rendered life-saving aid, but the man died at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The East Idaho Critical Incident Team, with the Pocatello Police Department leading the investigation, was called in to handle the independent inquiry. Additional support for the investigation is being provided by Idaho Falls Police and Idaho State Police. The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office will release further information as the investigation progresses.
This incident highlights the unpredictable dangers of confronting a potentially armed suspect, even on one’s own property. In defensive gun use situations, it is critical to prioritize personal safety and call law enforcement whenever possible. This case also underscores the importance of rapid coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies during a high-risk search for an armed individual.
