An inmate considered dangerous managed to escape from custody at a hospital in Idaho during the early hours of Wednesday following a violent incident involving officers. The escape occurred as Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) officers were preparing to return Skylar Meade, the inmate, to jail after he had received medical treatment at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, according to the Boise Police Department.
During the incident, an unidentified suspect ambushed the officers and opened fire, injuring two of them. One officer is currently in critical but stable condition, while the other officer sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A third IDOC officer was also injured when Boise police intervened and fired at an armed individual near the hospital entrance. Fortunately, the third officer's injuries were not severe.
Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar condemned the attack, describing it as a brazen and violent act that appeared to be coordinated to facilitate the escape of the dangerous inmate. The incident took place right in front of the Emergency Department, where individuals seek medical assistance in critical situations.
Following the shooting, the hospital was put on a temporary lockdown to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Leticia Ramirez, a hospital spokeswoman, confirmed that all individuals on the medical center campus were safe, and normal operations had resumed after security measures were heightened and all entrances were closed.
Skylar Meade, the escaped inmate, had been serving a 20-year prison sentence since 2017 for firing shots at a Twin Falls sheriff's sergeant during a high-speed chase. His criminal record includes prior convictions for felony possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, and introducing contraband into a correctional facility. The identity of the second suspect involved in the incident has not been disclosed at this time.
