Three wounded, suspect killed in Idaho sheriff's office shooting
Authorities say a gunman opened fire Friday afternoon outside and inside the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office in Wallace, Idaho, wounding two women in a pickup truck and a sheriff's officer before being shot and killed by law enforcement in the lobby. Sheriff William Eddy said the three victims suffered leg and ear wounds described as minor, the suspect carried multiple firearms, and local officers were joined by FBI and U.S. Marshals Service personnel as they secured the rural headquarters.
đ Key Facts
- The incident began around 2:30 p.m. PT Friday outside the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office in Wallace, Idaho.
- The suspect shot two women sitting in a pickup truck through the windshield, hitting each in the leg.
- The gunman then entered the sheriff's office lobby and fired, striking an officer in the ear before officers fatally shot him; he was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m.
- All three victims sustained injuries described as minor, and no hostages were taken.
- The suspect, armed with multiple firearms, has not yet been publicly identified, and a motive has not been released.
đ Relevant Data
Idaho has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the United States, with approximately 60.1% of adults living in households with guns, compared to the national average of about 32%.
Gun Ownership by State (2025 Statistics) â Ammo.com
In 2023, Idaho experienced an increase in assaults against law enforcement officers, with 232 assaults reported, up from previous years, even as overall crime rates decreased.
Report shows overall crime down in Idaho; hate crimes, assaults against officers on rise â Idaho Press
Rural U.S. counties have a 76% higher gun suicide death rate compared to urban counties, while their gun homicide death rate is 46% lower.
Firearm Death Rates in Rural vs Urban US Counties â PMC - NIH
Shoshone County, Idaho, reported zero murders and low violent crime offenses in 2024, with a total of 14 aggravated assaults and 2 robberies.
Shoshone County - Crime In Idaho 2024 â Idaho State Police
Wallace, Idaho, has a population of 791 as of the 2020 census, with 91.2% White residents, 6.0% Hispanic, and 1.2% two or more races, reflecting a predominantly White demographic in a small rural town.
Wallace Demographics | Current Idaho Census Data â Idaho-Demographics.com