Idaho State Police (ISP) have detained a suspect in a shooting on Interstate 90.
On January 8th, a female driver reported an incident to ISP after someone shot at her vehicle while she was going down Interstate 90. The driver called the ISP Regional Dispatch Center at 9:30 p.m., and the dispatcher routed him to a secure area. A trooper arrived and confirmed that there was a bullet hole in the passenger side of her automobile.
The inquiry began with scant evidence, including a fuzzy snapshot of the suspect’s vehicle, which was driven by a male. ISP dispatchers Jamielyn Rupe, Parker Cooley, and Haley Shields responded promptly, checking camera footage and employing a variety of internal technologies to identify the car. Although initial matches were inconclusive, Dispatcher Shields’ input redirected the focus, allowing Rupe to identify a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-90 at the Beck Road camera.
Rupe’s investigation linked the automobile to an elderly woman from Cocolalla. Although she did not match the suspect’s description, previous reports indicated that her son had a history of erratic and violent behavior, including paranoia, threats of violence, and reckless driving. Rupe shared this information with Troopers Daniel Taylor and O’Brien.
Acting on this information, ISP troopers, in collaboration with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, found the son at his residence. He admitted to the crime and was put into custody. In a subsequent interview, he admitted to a long history of using firearms and doing violent acts.
Corporal Daniel Taylor praised the dispatch team’s efforts, saying, “Without the incredible work done by the dispatchers, there was no way we could have identified the suspect vehicle and ultimately arrested a suspect within an hour. It is invaluable to have experts on your team who use tools, resources, and sheer investigatory insight to impact a case like this!”