Idaho State Police, FBI still investigating Adams County rancher shooting

The Idaho State Police’s investigation into the Nov. 1 shooting of Adams County rancher Jack Yantis is still underway.

“We are still waiting for lab analysis on some evidence that cannot be done by our forensic lab,” ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker said this week.

Baker said the agency does not know when its investigation into the shooting, which involved two Adams County sheriff’s deputies, will be completed. When it is, ISP will submit its findings to the Idaho attorney general’s office, which will determine if there were any state criminal violations.

“We have been working with the attorney general’s office to make sure that they will have the information that they believe that they will need when we do turn it over,” Baker said.

The FBI is conducting its own investigation into the shooting for possible federal violations. U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson said the investigation continues.

A car struck one of Yantis’ bulls Nov. 1 on U.S. 95 near his ranch near Council, injuring the occupants. Emergency responders, including Adams County sheriff’s deputies Cody W. Roland and Brian S. Wood, went to the scene.

An Adams County dispatcher had called Yantis to the scene to take care of the bull, which was alive but seriously wounded. The deputies’ and Yantis’ guns went off. Yantis, 62, was killed. The Yantis family has said the shooting was “completely unjustified.” Authorities have not yet provided details of the incident.

Yantis’s wife, Donna, who witnessed the shooting, had a heart attack and was hospitalized. She has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

The two deputies have been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigations.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Idaho State Police, FBI still investigating Adams County rancher shooting."