Three prison officers shot as inmate dramatically broken out of Idaho hospital by gunman

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Three Idaho Department of Corrections officers were shot as an inmate escaped from a hospital in Boise. Now, officials are looking for two suspects: The inmate and the man who attacked and fired at the officers.

Police say that the incident started at 2.15am on Wednesday when officials transported inmate Skylar Meade to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

As the officers were preparing to transport the inmate back to a correctional facility, an unknown suspect attacked and fired at the officers, hitting two of them, according to officials.

Additional officers responded to the hospital amid news of a shooting and the facility went into lockdown as police searched for suspects. One officer fired his gun at an armed individual near the entrance of the facility. Officials later determined that the person was a correctional officer.

According to preliminary investigation, Meade and the shooting suspect left the facility in a grey four-door sedan just before the additional officers arrived at the scene.

Out of the officers shot, one is in critical but stable condition, a second has serious but non-life-threatening injuries while the third is also receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Meade has been incarcerated since 2016 October with his most recent sentence slated to end in 2036 October. He’s serving time for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement and has prior convictions, including felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, police said.

Boise police are searching for the suspects with help from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

Reacting to news of the incident, Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar said, “This brazen violent and apparently coordinated attack on Idaho Department of Corrections personnel, to facilitate an escape of a dangerous inmate, was carried out right in front of the Emergency Department, where people come for medical help, often in the direst circumstances. 

“When BPD officers responded, they believed the shooter was inside the Emergency Department. They immediately entered to address any potential continued threat to Emergency Room staff.

“I am grateful this harrowing incident did not result in loss of life, and we are monitoring the wounded IDOC officers with great hope for a full and speedy recovery of all involved,” the chief concluded, adding that the men are armed and dangerous.

Anyone who may come into contact with the men is encouraged to call 911.

This is a developing story...