Wallace shooting suspect identified

WALLACE — The man behind Friday's shooting at the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office has been identified.

Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy confirmed Saturday that John Drake, 77, was the sole suspect in the shooting and was pronounced dead at the scene following a standoff with police.

The incident unfolded just after 2:30 p.m. Friday when Drake began firing outside the sheriff’s office, striking the nearby Ace Hardware building and wounding three people, authorities said.

All three victims suffered minor injuries and were treated at area hospitals.

Drake had entered the lobby of the sheriff’s office after the initial shooting and continued firing before moving deeper into the building and barricading himself, resulting in damage to the building and a standoff that lasted for longer than an hour.

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. 

Law enforcement officers eventually engaged the suspect inside the building, and Drake was shot and killed in what Eddy described as an officer-involved shooting.

There was no indication of a hostage situation at any point during the incident.

Eddy, who was sworn in as sheriff earlier this month, called the incident a “significant event” and thanked the responding agencies, which included the Idaho State Police, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Sheriff’s Office, Pinehurst Police, Kellogg Police, Osburn Police, Mineral County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and Marshals and Silver Valley Fire.   

Authorities have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public. 

The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and the ISP continues to investigate the incident.

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.”