WALLACE — One person is dead, and three others injured following a shooting in downtown Wallace on Friday afternoon. 

Police reports indicate shots were fired just after 2:30 p.m., striking the Ace Hardware building on Bank Street. The suspect then fled into the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, prompting a standoff with law enforcement. 

At 4:15 p.m., the suspect, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead. 

Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy said the shooter fired inside the sheriff’s office after entering the lobby, then moved into the building’s attorney meeting office and barricaded himself. 

Agencies from across the region responded, including departments from Montana and Washington, as well as Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg, Osburn and Pinehurst police; the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office; Idaho State Police; the FBI; and U.S. Marshals. 

During a Friday night press conference, Eddy confirmed that two civilians and Kellogg Police Officer Dameon Groves were shot during the incident. All injuries were minor. According to Kellogg Police Chief Paul Twidt, Groves finished his shift after receiving treatment. 

Eddy said he was on scene during the shooting and entered the building with Twidt and Groves when Groves was shot in the ear. Groves was one of the initial responders and was credited for his leadership. 

“Dameon Groves with the Kellogg Police Department did an outstanding job of taking control of the scene,” Eddy said. 

Kootenai County’s Joint SWAT Team with Coeur d’Alene police also responded and played a key role in stopping the shooter. 

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris was at the scene in an administrative capacity to support Eddy. 

“Whenever we have assets that go outside of the agency, we like to have a department head go,” Norris said. “In a significant event like this, as soon as I heard about it, I felt like it was probably necessary for me to come support the sheriff. He’s fully capable of handling this, but when you have a person that goes into the lobby of a sheriff’s office and starts a shootout, that’s a pretty significant event.” 

Norris said preliminary reports suggested the shooter had gained access to the jail, which expedited the response. The shooter did not enter the jail, but inmates were inside during the incident. 

Eddy also criticized a local blogger who published the alleged shooter’s name on Facebook. 

“That was kind of irresponsible of whoever put that on there,” Eddy said. “We don’t even know yet.” 

For Eddy, who was sworn in as sheriff last month, the shooting adds to a string of challenges, including several natural disasters. He admitted during the press conference to being “a little emotional.”  

“It’s been a rough month,” he said. “It seems like one tragedy after the other.” 

The shooting remains under investigation. More details will follow in the coming days and weeks. 

    Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy addresses the media during a press conference on Friday night at the Wallace Inn. He was joined by Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, Kellogg Police Chief Paul Twidt, Osburn Police Chief Jason Woody (standing behind Eddy), and Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter.
  

    Law enforcement officers pointed firearms at the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office from across Bank Street during a standoff on Friday afternoon.
  

    Law enforcement cleared Bank Street and the surrounding areas of pedestrians during the standoff.
  

    The scene outside the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office following the end of the standoff.