Why did Boise get a Blue Alert this morning? Shooting prompts search for suspects

This story was updated 4:47 p.m. March 21 after a news conference Thursday, when police announced both suspects were in custody. Find the latest story here.

Boise residents Wednesday morning received a Blue Alert notification after an ambush at a hospital left three Idaho Department of Correction officers with gunshot injuries, and the two suspects fleeing from the scene.

The Blue Alert, sent out on mobile devices shortly before 10 a.m., told residents about a suspect at large, Skylar Meade, who escaped in a vehicle alongside another suspect police identified as Nicholas Umphenour. Meade, a 31-year-old IDOC prisoner, was being transported to the hospital for medical treatment by IDOC officers when Boise police said Umphenour shot two of the IDOC officers.

A third officer was shot by police, the Idaho Statesman reported. Police said the suspects escaped before law enforcement arrived but were now in custody.

“Boise PD is looking for two suspects they believe are imminent and credible threat to law enforcement and/or the public,” the notification said. “The individuals are CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS please do not approach them but call 911 or 208-377-6790.”

Idaho law authorizes state police to send out a Blue Alert as part of its emergency notification system, which includes the more commonly known Amber Alert used when a child disappears. When someone harms a member of law enforcement who was in the line of duty, and the suspect isn’t apprehended, the Blue Alert is issued to notify the community.

How Idaho Blue Alert works

According to the law, state police can activate the alert in two scenarios: when a suspect involved in the death or injury of an officer has not been caught and poses a serious public threat, or when an officer goes missing while in the line of duty under concerning circumstances.

When one of these scenarios is reported to state police, they assess the situation and determine whether there is sufficient information for a public alert that could help find the suspect or missing officer.

State police resolve a Blue Alert when they find the missing officer or suspect, or the incident is “otherwise resolved,” according to state law. The alert can also be resolved if police decide that it will no longer help find the suspect or officer.

Saint Alphonsus attack prompts Blue Alert

All three IDOC officers who were shot were being treated for their injuries and in stable condition, according to IDOC.

The suspects were believed to be “armed and dangerous,” traveling in a gray 2020 Honda Civic with license plate number 2TDF43U, according to police.

The Blue Alert was sent more than seven hours after the ambush, which took place around 2 a.m., as law enforcement continued to investigate. Aaron Snell, a spokesperson for Idaho State Police, told the Statesman it took time to verify information from all involved departments and investigate further. State police must confirm information to decide whether an alert would help the general public, not cause additional concern, he said.

Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar at a news conference Wednesday afternoon also said law enforcement often prefers to send the alert out when more people are awake.

“We also take into consideration that at 2 or 3 a.m., there’s probably not a whole lot of people sitting by their phones waiting for that information,” Winegar said. “That’s probably more effective when you get a little bit closer to the waking hours for most folks in the general public.”

Meade is a white man with brown hair and hazel eyes, reported to be 5 feet 6 inches with several tattoos. Police described Umphenour as roughly 5 feet 11 inches tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department was under lockdown but has since returned to normal operations, according to the health system.

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Alex Brizee contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 20, 2024 at 1:56 PM.