Ada County Sheriff’s Office Press Release re: Jeremy Banach Shooting
Prosecutor: Star Police officer justified in fatal shooting of 39-year-old Jeremy Banach last summer
NEWS
MAR 14 2023
Prosecutor: Star Police officer justified in fatal shooting of 39-year-old Jeremy Banach last summer
Valley County Prosecutor Brian Naugle determined Star Police Officer Jason Woodcook’s actions were justified when he fatally shot 39-year-old Jeremy Banach last summer.
Naugle determined Woodcook did not break any laws when he shot Banach, who was holding a handgun as he walked through a parking lot in downtown Star on June 15 – and an internal investigation determined Woodcook did not violate any Ada County Sheriff’s Office policies.
Naugle finished his review of the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) report into the officer-involved shooting late last week.
Banach, who forensic tests determined was intoxicated on fentanyl and methamphetamine at the time of the shooting, stole a gun from a family member the night before and pointed it in the direction of two Star Police detectives when he was shot by Woodcook.
Star Police detectives Ashley Turner and Jonathan Steele, who were following and actively trying to get Banach to drop his gun as he walked through the parking lot of the Star Mercantile, were also cleared by Naugle’s review, the CITF investigation, and by internal review.
Investigators with the CITF determined Bancach ignored multiple lawful commands to drop the gun and was an immediate threat to deputies and members of the public nearby when he was shot.
Naugle made the same conclusion after reviewing the evidence, saying the decisions made by Woodcook, Steele, and Turner were lawful and reasonable.
Woodcook, Steele, and Turner told investigators they watched Banach raise a gun towards the back of his head and determined Banach was in the process of aiming to fire a round over his shoulder at the detectives when Woodcook fired.
A woman who watched the scene unfold from the neighborhood next to the Merc told investigators she felt scared; that Banach was walking towards her and she was afraid he might try to shoot her, so she went inside her home seconds before Banach was shot.
Woodcook fired five rounds at Banach.
The incident happened on N. Main Street, just next to the Star Mercantile parking lot, just after 9:30 a.m. on June 15.
Star Police began their investigation shortly after 8 a.m. when a member of Banach’s family called Ada County dispatchers to report Banach was acting erratically and refusing to leave their home.
The family member also said Banach was a drug addict who sometimes carried knives but was not being aggressive at the time.
Officers were familiar with Banach, who had a history of illegal drug use and was a suspect in several different property crime cases, including reports of theft from his family’s home in Star.
Two Star Police officers arrived just before 8:15 a.m. and talked to an agitated Banach, who was hiding behind a tool shed.
Banach said he had a gun. Star police called in backup and continued to talk with Banach.
Officers said they weren’t here to arrest him but did want him to leave the home, at his family’s request.
After several minutes of conversation, Banach agreed to just leave the property. Officers watched him walk away at 8:37 a.m.
As that was happening, Banach told them the gun was slipping in his waistband, so they watched him grab the gun and put it in his pocket.
Minutes later, a family member told officers Banach stole the gun from a different family member the night before.
The report of the stolen gun — a felony — combined with Banach’s behavior, demeanor, and history of drug abuse were concerning for Star Police.
Officers then began searching for Banach all over town, eventually finding him walking next to the Star Mercantile around 9:30 a.m.
A redacted version of the CITF report is available at https://adacounty.id.gov/sheriff/about-us/critical-incidents/
A video report, with on-body camera footage, is available on YouTube.