NAMPA -- One woman is dead, and her suspected killer shot to death by police, after what Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue described as a deteriorating domestic relationship came to a tragic end Tuesday morning.
Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff said multiple 911 calls were made at around 8:06 a.m. regarding a disturbance - a stabbing - in the 7500 block of Edgebrook Drive. The two Nampa officers who were the first responders arrived to find several people injured, both inside and outside the home.
In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Donahue - whose agency is overseeing the investigation - said the scene as chaos when officers arrived.
The officers went inside the house, where they found the suspect. The man was armed, Donahue said, and at least one of the two officers opened fire at him, hitting and killing him. The sheriff declined to specify what type of weapon the man was holding when he was shot.
Donahue said three injured women were found at or near the home. One of them - the woman who had been in a relationship with the suspect - did not survive her wounds.
The other two women were seriously injured, and are being treated at an area hospital. Both are expected to survive, the sheriff said.
Three small children were also in the house during the carnage but were not hurt, according to Donahue.
Nampa Police involved in shooting after multiple people stabbed
Officials have not released whether the people involved lived at the home.
"From what I understand, there were several people in the house, and who actually belonged there and didn't - we don't know yet," Nampa police Sgt. Riha said earlier Tuesday.
The two Nampa officers involved in the shooting are six- and 14-year veterans of the department, Huff said, and they have been placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy.
Donahue said law enforcement will be at the scene investigating through Tuesday night, and possibly into Wednesday. The names of the officers, the suspect, and the victims have not been released by investigators.
Donahue - who is heavily involved in domestic violence prevention efforts, including Canyon County's Man Up Crusade, said Tuesday's catastrophe underscored the need for the entire community to tackle domestic violence head-on.
"This is something that is all of our problem. This is society's problem. We are not winning that battle," Donahue said. "I think today is an exclamation point on what we're facing out there, as a society, as law enforcement, our good firemen and paramedics - this is what they respond to every day."
The names of the suspect, victims and officers have not yet been released.
As officers investigated Tuesday morning, a red pickup barreled through the crime scene, driving over a lawn and clipping a police volunteer who was holding up crime tape. The volunteer who was hit was not seriously injured.
The pickup driver is connected to the people inside the house, police said, but his relationship to the incident is unknown. That man, who appeared distraught, was handcuffed and taken into custody.
He was eventually released without being arrested, but could face charges at a later time, police say
The Critical Incident Task Force, led by the Canyon County Sheriff's Office, will handle the officer-involved shooting portion of the investigation.
Huff released the following statement:
"On March 27, 2018 at approximately 8:06 am Nampa Police Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a disturbance in the 7500 block of Edgebrook Drive in Nampa. The information reported was the report of a disturbance at this location involving a stabbing.
"Nampa Police Officers were immediately dispatched to the residence. Two Nampa Officers arrived on scene and within a brief period of time, a report of “shots fired” was relayed to the Dispatch center.
Additional police officers along with Nampa Fire Department and Canyon County paramedics were also responding to the scene.
"Several injured people were located at the scene, both inside and outside the residence and were transported to area hospitals.
"No first responders were injured. While this investigation is being conducted, the two Nampa Police Officers are on administrative leave.
"As is standard protocol when deadly force is used, the Canyon County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) was activated.
"The Canyon County, Idaho Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency overseeing this investigation.
"As the Chief of the Nampa Police Department, I would like to mention that situations like the one that occurred earlier today are difficult for everyone involved. Our thoughts are with the victims of this brutal attack and also with their friends and family during this challenging time.
"I am extremely proud of how the Nampa Police Department handled this call, from the Dispatchers who took the initial calls, to the officers, detectives and crime scene investigators. I assure you that the Nampa Police Department has a great team who works hard each and every day to ensure the safety of this community.
"I would also like to thank the Nampa Idaho Fire Department and the Canyon County Paramedics for their quick response and professional conduct on a very chaotic and complicated crime scene. I fully believe their actions along with those of responding officers saved lives."