COEUR d'ALENE - Jim Meyers is still in shock, and had a difficult time Monday coming to grips with the sudden death of a young man who had been a co-worker and become a close friend.

"I was like a dad to him," Meyers said, referring to Eric B. Johnston, who was shot and killed by a Coeur d'Alene police officer Sunday morning near the intersection of 15th Street and Young Avenue.

"I think what happened was a little excessive," Meyers said of the police officer's actions.

Meyers, 66, said, "All in all, you couldn't find a better person" than Johnston.

Johnston, a Dalton Gardens resident who just celebrated his 35th birthday, worked at Complete Autocare in Dalton Gardens with Meyers. He said Johnston wanted to be a master certified technician.

"He was always wanting to work with me," Meyers said. "I was patient with him. He was a good learner, and could do anything."

He described Johnston as a hard worker, who was often at the shop, working long hours whenever he could. Everybody liked him, he never complained and never argued with anyone, Meyers said.

"He was very quiet, but very observant," Meyers said.

Working on cars was what he loved to do, and it was to be his career.

Johnston also was working with Ray's Rooftop Moss Removal of Post Falls.

He worked for Charles Ray Larsen III, who knew Johnston for 13 years and is engaged to marry Johnston's sister, Lisa.

"He was the backbone of the (moss removal) company," Larsen said. He always showed up on time and never complained about anything, he said. Larsen employed him the past two years.

"I took him under my wing as a brother," Larsen said.

He described Johnston as a "shirt-off-his-back kind of guy," who was always smiling, but said little.

"He'd make you smile just sitting next to him," Larsen said.

He said Johnston was a "stout young man," but always gentle with others, and a great listener.

"The customers loved him," Larsen said. "I can't believe this happened to him. It's crazy. It's just unbelievable."

When he wasn't working, Johnston often would be out boating in his 12-foot fiberglass boat with his dog, Fenway. He loved Frisbee golf, too.

"His dog went everywhere with him," Meyers said. "He was a very good companion."

The little tan dog was a mix, with a "hot-dog-shaped" body, big brown eyes, a crooked left front leg, and a couple of teeth that stuck out of his mouth funny.

Johnston adopted him at the dog pound, and kept the name he had already been given.

Johnston often fished on Carlin Bay, and loved to reel in a bass or two when luck would have it. The boat, which didn't run when he got it, was a gift from his grandfather. Johnston got it working.

Larsen said he's watching Fenway for now.

"He's right here next to me," Larsen said Monday. Larsen picked up one of Johnston's sweatshirts, so the dog had something to snuggle up with.

"He was loved by many, many people," Larsen said. He had a big family and lots of friends, many of whom he gave fun nicknames, Larsen said.

"He'll be greatly missed," he said.

Jim Meyers and Johnston worked together on Saturday, shortly before Johnston headed out to the North Idaho Fair.

"He'd probably had a few drinks" that night, Meyers guessed. Johnston has multiple arrests and convictions for DUI.

The incident Sunday that ended in Johnston's death started when he was involved in a hit-and-run accident at 7:22 a.m. at Dollar Street and Lost Avenue, where he struck a utility-light pole and severed it with his pickup truck.

A police officer shot him shortly afterward at an apartment at 1422 E. Young Ave., north of Sanders Beach.

David Larsen, who also works at Complete Autocare, said, "As far as I know, (Johnston) came out of the house with a knife to his own throat and said he wasn't going to get another DUI and go to prison."

Meyers said, "He was threatening himself, but it was probably an alcohol induced situation."

David Larsen said, "And the officer shot him four times." The Idaho State Police, which is investigating, hasn't released any details, and said nothing further would be released on Monday.

The last time David Larsen heard from Johnston, Johnston left him a voicemail saying he had picked up a couple gifts for Meyers at the fair. Johnston left the voicemail at 2 a.m. Sunday, about four hours before he was killed.

On Saturday afternoon, Johnston was saying he looked forward to attending the fair.

"He was going to enjoy the food, because it's like the best food when it comes to town," David Larsen said. "When he left here he was in a good mood."

Larsen showed up at Johnston's place on Sunday, not knowing his friend was dead, and found police there.

"I said, 'What? Does he have a DUI, because I'll go bail him out right now,'" Larsen said. "They said, 'No, Eric's dead.'"

He said the police told him Johnston got into "an altercation with a police officer and they had to shoot him."

Larsen said it didn't add up from what he knew about Johnston. He took it upon himself to start immediately notifying Johnston's family.

Vermont Trotter, who lives near the apartment building where the shooting took place, said his windows were open that morning.

Trotter said he heard five gunshots. Another neighbor said he heard three shots. An autopsy was performed Monday.

"I was sitting at my desk about 65 feet away from where the shooter unloaded on this guy," Trotter told The Press Monday. "I'm willing to testify to that in court."