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Three Idaho correctional officers were ambushed and shot while escorting a dangerous inmate to the hospital early Wednesday morning. Authorities said the inmate and the gunman, who have ties to a white supremacist group, fled the scene in a getaway car, injuring all three officers, prompting a manhunt.
Josh Tewald, director of the Idaho Department of Corrections, said in a press conference Wednesday that inmate Skyler Meade was attacked shortly after 2 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise as he was being discharged from the hospital. He said the escape occurred.
Boise Police Department/Materials/AP
Skylar Mead.
Tewalt said the Department of Corrections took Meade to a hospital Tuesday night after he engaged in “self-harm” while inside the correctional facility, where medical staff determined he needed emergency treatment.
Tewalt said two correctional officers were in the ambulance with Mead on the way to the hospital, and a pursuit vehicle followed.
Tewalt said that in high-risk situations, such as Meade's hospital visit, inmates are typically surrounded by two unarmed staff members, with an armed staff member keeping watch.
Boise Police Chief Ron Weinger said prison officials were preparing to take Meade back to the Idaho Maximum Security Institute, about 11 miles away, when a gunman opened fire on officers. Shots were fired, hitting two people.
Meade and the suspected gunman fled the area shortly before officers arrived in a gray four-door sedan, a 2020 Honda Civic with license plate number 2TDF43U, the chief said.
Officials said a third corrections officer was injured by responding officers, who believed the gunman was inside the emergency department and saw an armed person near the door. That's what it means. One of the officers injured by the suspect is in serious but stable condition, Winegar said. The other two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials said responding officers initially believed there was a shooting inside the hospital and rushed to ensure the safety of those inside the building. The hospital was closed for a period, but has since reopened. the police said.
Boise Police Department
Nicholas Amphenol
In a police news release Wednesday evening, the shooting suspect was identified as Nicholas Amphenol. He is charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and aiding and abetting escape, according to the release.
Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for vehicles and to call police or 911 if they see them, but not to interact with the men.
“They are dangerous, they are armed, and they have shown a propensity for violence,” Winegar said.
“In this situation, St. Alphonsus wasn't necessarily the target; it just happened to be where Mr. Mead was receiving treatment,” Winegar said. “At this time, we do not believe there is a risk to those who require treatment, appointments or other services on that campus.”
Authorities across the state are assisting Boise police with the investigation.
City of Boise/Handouts/AP
Undated photo of Skyler Mead
Meade was convicted in October 2016 of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm. He has a large criminal record and is a documented gang member with ties to the Aryan Order, Winegar said. He was scheduled to be released in 2036.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Aryan Knights are a white supremacist prison gang primarily based in Idaho.
Winegar said Mead has tattoos on his face of the numbers “1” and “11,” representing the group.
Several high-profile prison escapes have been reported across the United States in recent years, but experts say they are extremely rare.
Jeff Mellow, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said his research shows that less than 1% of people who are incarcerated each year escape from prison.
“Correctional institutions have done a much better job in recent decades with the goal of fortifying prisons and jails, making it much more difficult for individuals to escape,” he said. Merrow suspects someone leaked the information that Mead was going to the hospital.
Mellow said the two suspects are likely to be found in the coming days or weeks.
“The vast majority of escapees are recaptured, and usually within a very short period of time after escape,” Mellow said.
Mellow added that even with strong safety measures, correctional officers must remain extremely vigilant at all times.
“Prisoners and fugitives only get lucky once,” he says.
This story has been updated with additional information.