Prosecutor: Boise officer shot suspect in defense of self, others

Patrick Anthony Zavala was fleeing police and pointing a handgun at Officer Adam Crist when Crist opened fire last October, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said Thursday.

Zavala, who was wounded in the hand and thigh, fired at least one shot in the exchange, said Loebs, who reviewed the evidence and interviews conducted by the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force. He determined Crist’s use of deadly force was justified and no charges will be filed against him.

Zavala, 37, is charged with five crimes, including felony assault on an officer. He is scheduled for trial June 20.

The suspect had reached the top of a 6-foot fence, then fell to the ground after Crist fired his first shot, Boise police said. As other officers converged on Zavala from the other side of the fence, Crist saw the suspect was still holding his gun and in response fired more shots through the fence, Loebs said in a letter to the Ada County Prosecutor’s office.

Crist described more about the shooting and the events of that night at a court hearing in January. Click here to read more of what he said.

The pursuit had begun about midnight on Peasley Street near Rose Hill Street after Zavala, a suspect in a previous incident, fled on foot from a traffic stop, police said.

“The suspect’s actions placed neighbors and responding officers in extreme danger,” Boise Police Chief Bill Bones said in a news release. “Officer Crist pursued the suspect on foot despite the suspect being known to have a weapon and fleeing from officers. Officer Crist’s response to the suspect pointing a weapon at him likely saved him and other responding officers from serious harm.”

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Prosecutor: Boise officer shot suspect in defense of self, others."