An intense manhunt is currently in progress following the escape of an Idaho inmate from custody during a daring ambush at a Boise area hospital. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, resulting in three corrections officers being wounded, as confirmed by authorities.
The attack and subsequent escape took place at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center as inmate Skylar Meade was being discharged from the hospital shortly after 2 a.m. MT. A person opened fire during the discharge, leading to chaos and confusion at the medical facility.
According to Josh Tewalt, the director of the Idaho Department of Correction, the shooting was described as a 'brazen' and 'coordinated attack' by Boise Police Department Chief Ron Winegar. Corrections officers were in the process of escorting Meade back to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, located approximately 11 miles away, when an unidentified assailant launched an assault, injuring two officers.
The assailant, along with Meade, managed to escape in a gray four-door sedan, believed to be a Honda Civic, just before law enforcement arrived at the scene. A third corrections officer sustained injuries from gunfire discharged by a responding police officer who mistook the situation inside the emergency department.
Chief Winegar disclosed that one of the wounded officers is currently in critical but stable condition, while the other two have non-life-threatening injuries. The identity of the suspected shooter remains unknown at this time.
Authorities have issued a public advisory to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle and to immediately contact law enforcement or emergency services if spotted. However, citizens are strongly advised not to engage with the suspects due to the perceived danger they pose.
Skylar Meade, the escaped inmate, was serving a sentence for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm since October 2016. He has a history of prior convictions and is affiliated with the Aryan Knights gang. Meade was scheduled for release in 2036.
Tewalt revealed that Meade had been taken to the hospital on Tuesday night due to self-injurious behavior. After an evaluation by medical staff at the prison, it was determined that Meade required urgent off-site medical care, leading to his hospitalization from 9:50 p.m. to 2:08 a.m.
