Boise police and the Idaho Department of Corrections have disclosed a troubling incident involving an ambush on two prison guards while they were escorting Inmate Skyler Mead to a hospital for medical treatment.
According to reports, the guards were shot during the ambush to free inmate Skyler Mead, which is believed to have been carried out by Nicholas Umphenour.
Following the attack, Mead and Umphenour fled the scene in a Gray 2020 Honda Civic, bearing license plate 2TDF43U.
Tragically, a third guard was mistakenly shot by a Boise police officer amidst the chaos.
The Idaho DOC revealed that two of the guards involved in the incident were unarmed, while the third guard was equipped with a firearm.
Idaho DOC Press Releases
UPDATE: Boise Police detectives have identified the man suspected of being involved in the overnight shooting of IDOC officers as Nicholas Umphenour. Officers have obtained a warrant for Umphenour’s arrest on two charges of Aggravated Battery against law enforcement and one charge of aiding and abetting an escape. The warrant has a two million dollar bond. Officers continue to warn that the suspect, Nicholas Umphenour, and the escaped inmate, Skylar Meade, are considered armed and dangerous, so if you come in contact with them, do not approach. Call 911 or Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Suspect: Nicholas Umphenour is described as being 5’11”, about 160 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Warrant: Aggravated Battery against law enforcement (2 counts) and one charge of aiding and abetting an escape.
BPD’s investigation led them to identify Umphenour as a suspect and confirmed that he is an associate of Skylar Meade. At this time, it is unknown exactly where they are or where they are headed. Officers have also identified the license plate and vehicle they fled in and are continuing to look for the vehicle.
Vehicle description: The vehicle is a Grey 2020 Honda Civic with license plate 2TDF43U.
The investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE: Officers are searching for two suspects following a shooting at Saint Alphonsus shortly after 2 am. Officers have secured the scene. Boise Police are looking for two outstanding suspects last seen traveling in a grey four-door sedan, possibly a Honda Civic with ID plates. One suspect, pictured here, is escaped IDOC inmate Skylar Meade. Both suspects are known to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
The hospital was placed on a temporary modified lockdown but has since resumed normal operations. An officer-involved shooting occurred during the response to this incident and more information will be released soon. The Ada County Sheriff’s Office is leading the Critical Incident Task Force investigation.
UPDATE: Officers across the Treasure Valley are continuing to search for the two suspects mentioned in the previous news release.
This incident began at 2:15 am as Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) officers had transported IDOC inmate Skylar Meade to Saint Alphonsus for medical treatment. As they were preparing to leave to transport Meade back to IDOC, an unknown suspect attacked and fired at the officers, striking two of them.
Boise Police officers responded to the hospital to reports of an active shooter, with one officer firing his duty weapon at an armed individual near the entrance. That individual was later determined to be an IDOC employee. He was not seriously injured and is receiving treatment for his injuries. The hospital was locked down as officers searched the area for the suspect. A preliminary investigation indicates Meade and the shooting suspect got into a grey four-door sedan and fled the area just prior to Boise Police officers arriving.
Meade has been serving time in IDOC for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement and has prior convictions including felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility. He has been incarcerated since October 2016 and his most recent sentence was set to end October 2036.
In total, three IDOC officers were injured. One officer, shot by the suspect is in critical but stable condition. The second officer shot by the suspect has serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The third IDOC officer was injured during gunfire from a responding BPD officer and received non-life-threatening injuries.
“This brazen, violent, and apparently coordinated attack on Idaho Department of Corrections personnel, to facilitate an escape of a dangerous inmate, was carried out right in front of the Emergency Department, where people come for medical help, often in the direst circumstances. When BPD officers responded, they believed the shooter was inside the Emergency Department. They immediately entered to address any potential continued threat to Emergency Room staff. I am grateful this harrowing incident did not result in loss of life, and we are monitoring the wounded IDOC officers with great hope for a full and speedy recovery of all involved,” said Chief Ron Winegar. “We caution anyone who may have contact with the suspects involved in this violent attack and escape to call 911 immediately and not confront them personally. They are armed, dangerous, and have shown they are willing to use extreme violence in furtherance of their criminal activity.”
Boise police are leading the search for the two outstanding suspects. The Ada County Sheriff’s Office is leading the Ada County Critical Incident Taskforce (CITF) investigation into the officer-involved shooting.