Police Shooting Raises Serious Questions: Why Was He Shot in the Back? – The Whalen Report

In this interview, a father recounts the events surrounding the fatal shooting of his son by Star Police in Idaho in June 2022. According to the father, his son, who was under the influence at the time, had come to his home and refused to leave, prompting a call to police for assistance. Officers responded, made contact, and eventually allowed the son to leave the scene despite reportedly knowing he was impaired and in possession of a weapon.

The father alleges that the situation escalated after his son walked away, with officers later confronting him again. He claims that during this encounter, his son placed a firearm to his own head but did not threaten others. Within seconds, an officer fired multiple shots, striking him in the back. The father disputes the official justification for the shooting, arguing that video evidence does not support claims that his son posed an immediate threat to officers or others.

Following the incident, an external review cleared the officers of wrongdoing. However, the father raises concerns about the independence of that review, alleging potential conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency. He also criticizes what he describes as failures in earlier police handling of the situation, suggesting that his son could have been safely detained before the fatal encounter.

The family has since filed a lawsuit and is advocating for legislative changes in Idaho, including requiring independent investigations in cases involving deadly force by law enforcement. The father says his goal is not only justice for his son, but also preventing similar incidents from happening to other families.