Officer shoots man following knife incident at Idaho Falls Eagles Lodge
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IDAHO FALLS — A 63-year-old man was shot by an Idaho Falls Police Officer Sunday night after he approached the officer with a knife, according to a news release from the Idaho Falls Police Department.
The shooting happened around 8 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge on Hemmert Avenue. The officer was called to the lodge after the man was reportedly making suicidal statements.
“The officer located the man and began speaking with him inside the building. After a few minutes of conversation, the man produced a knife,” the news release says. “The officer gripped the man by the wrist that was holding the knife and a brief struggle ensued. The officer pushed the man away from him, telling him to put the knife away as the officer also moved away from the man.”
The news release says the man approached the officer and the officer told him to stop. The man did not and continued toward the officer. That’s when the officer shot the man.
The officer, along with other police officers and Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies, provided first aid until EMS arrived and took the man to Eastern Idaho Regional Center. Police did not release his status Monday morning.
“The officer did not sustain any injuries. The Eagles Lodge was open for business and occupied by multiple people during this incident. No patrons or employees were injured,” the news release says.
The East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, consisting of officers from multiple law enforcement agencies, is investigating the shooting with Idaho State Police serving as lead investigator.
The officer was wearing a body camera that was on at the time of the shooting and footage will be turned over to investigators, according to the department’s news release.
“For incidents that happen in Idaho Falls involving an IFPD officer, IFPD will fully cooperate in these investigations, but we will not conduct any part of the investigation,” the release says.
Per department policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, according to IFPD spokeswoman Jessica Clements.
Names of the officer and the man who was shot have not been released.