<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18876">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>Roger,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>Two of the three murders you mention in the
first phrase below of your post occurred in county rural areas -- one in or near
Troy, the near Genesee, close to where you live.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>Shacklefords's murders occurred in the
Kendrick-Juliaetta area.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>The population of Moscow is about 23,000.
This figure appears to omit a substantial part of the UI student/student
family population. The population of Latah County, including Moscow, is
about 36,000. You do the math.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>I do not for a minute claim that Moscow is a
crime free zone, quite the contrary. And I do not believe that all crimes
of the same kind in Moscow are investigated with equal vigor, the amount
vigor expended sometimes seems sometimes to depend on who is allegedly involved
either as a victim or as a suspect.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>For further comments, see my reply to
Keely.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>W.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=lfalen@turbonet.com href="mailto:lfalen@turbonet.com">lfalen</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=deco@moscow.com
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">Art Deco</A> ; <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision 2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:17
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Fw: Fw: Hignway
Snipings</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>How is this any different that what regularly takes place in
Moscow. There have been at least three murders in the last few years and there
are petty crimes listed in every paper. Since you arre picking on rural Latah,
I am supprise you did not mention Schakleford (sp).<BR>Roger<BR>-----Original
message-----<BR>From: "Art Deco" <A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR>Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010
13:47:17 -0800<BR>To: "Vision 2020" <A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>Subject:
[Vision2020] Fw: Fw: Hignway Snipings<BR><BR>> >From today's
Moscow-Pullman Daily News:<BR>> <BR>> LATAH COUNTY SHERIFF<BR>>
<BR>> Saturday<BR>> <BR>> 10:33 p.m. - A truck window was shot out by
a BB gun on Cedar Street in Bovill. <BR>> <BR>> Sunday<BR>> <BR>>
2:43 a.m. - A female was arrested for driving under the influence on Main
Street in Juliaetta.<BR>> <BR>> 1:49 p.m. - A male was arrested for
violating a no contact order on Second Avenue in Bovill.<BR>> <BR>> 5:17
p.m. - A coin collection was reportedly stolen from a residence on Johnson
Road near Deary.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> See bolded remarks
below:<BR>> <BR>> ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> From: Art Deco
<BR>> To: Vision 2020 <BR>> Cc: <A
href="mailto:jmills@lmtribune.com">jmills@lmtribune.com</A> ; Nathan Alford
Daily News ; <A href="mailto:asolan@dnews.com">asolan@dnews.com</A> ; Murf
Raquet Daily News ; <A href="mailto:dbauer@dnews.com">dbauer@dnews.com</A> ;
<A href="mailto:billf@lmtribune.com">billf@lmtribune.com</A> ; <A
href="mailto:sheriff@latah.id.us">sheriff@latah.id.us</A> ; <A
href="mailto:pa@latah.id.us">pa@latah.id.us</A> <BR>> Sent: Tuesday,
February 02, 2010 2:57 PM<BR>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Fw: Hignway
Snipings<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> One can only conclude, Roger, that you are
unaware of some of the people who populate parts of Latah County, particularly
some in Deary, Bovill, Princeton, Harvard, Kendrick, Juliaetta, etc As
someone who has spent time in some of the outer parts of the county, I can
tell you I have meet some really scary folks. If you talk to other
people that work or recreate in the upper Palouse River drainage, Emerald
Creek drainage, Meadow Creek drainage, etc, I am sure you will find these
sentiments echoed.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Also, now that information/rumors
about Austin Rickert's father and grandfather, previous firings on chip
trucks, unlicensed firearms dealers, the amount of lawlessness in the Deary,
Bovill, Harvard, etc areas are circulating, many more questions have arisen,
for example:<BR>> <BR>> Who built the fort from which the shots were
fired?<BR>> <BR>> Why was the fort built in that exact location?<BR>>
<BR>> Is this the first time chip trucks have been fired upon from the
fort, or fired upon from any other places in Latah county?<BR>> <BR>>
When, on Friday, was the first report of possible sniping actually
made?<BR>> <BR>> Were both firearms used purchased from licensed firearm
dealers?<BR>> <BR>> Why did the LCSD wait so long to get a search
warrant? Why did they not get it immediately after at least one sniper's
identity was known? Did that wait result in the destruction or removal
of any evidence?<BR>> <BR>> I can tell you this: There is a real
angry buzz going on among a lot of people about this incident which could have
been really tragic. People want some answers, not only to the kinds of
questions I have been raising, but other questions also. So far
information released has been bare bones. Even the information included
in the initial charging affidavit <A
href="http://images.bimedia.net/documents/012510-hwy-shooting-Rickert.pdf">http://images.bimedia.net/documents/012510-hwy-shooting-Rickert.pdf</A>
is very short on details. <BR>> <BR>> Also, both the LMT and the
DN have been strongly criticized for not only being more informative, but for
the lack of aggressive reporting that this incident calls for. For
example, why hasn't Jack Buell been interviewed? There is another person
who could give most likely some very pertinent, illuminating information
should she consent to an interview, namely Nadine Towne, mother of and
custodial parent of Austin Rickert.<BR>> <BR>> What penal and other
measures should be taken against the snipers depends to some extent on whether
they acted purely on their own or whether they were encouraged/abetted in any
way by others. I believe that should any plea bargain be made, it should
include the condition that the suspects fully reveal the role of anyone else,
no matter how small in these crimes, and they reveal such information under
polygraph testing.<BR>> <BR>> If there is evidence of anyone else being
involved, perhaps a Magistrate's Inquiry might be helpful in fully exploring
this matter, particularly when some people would be less inclined to lie under
oath or even to give information to investigators in the first place.<BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> Information originating from Deary sources suggests two very
diverse opinions of the presence of the LCSD: <BR>> <BR>>
1. The department has not taken alleged criminal goings on
there out seriously enough in the last few years, and as a result many things
that should have been or should be reported aren't.<BR>> <BR>>
2. The less we see of the LCSD, the better.<BR>> <BR>>
Wayne A. Fox<BR>> 1009 Karen Lane<BR>> PO Box 9421<BR>> Moscow,
ID 83843<BR>> <BR>> <A
href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>> 208
882-7975<BR>> ----- Original Message ----- <BR>>
From: lfalen <BR>> To: Art Deco ; Vision 2020
<BR>> Cc: Nathan Alford Daily News ; <A
href="mailto:asolan@dnews.com">asolan@dnews.com</A> ; <A
href="mailto:dbauer@dnews.com">dbauer@dnews.com</A> ; Murf Raquet Daily News ;
<A href="mailto:billf@lmtribune.com">billf@lmtribune.com</A> ; <A
href="mailto:sheriff@latah.id.us">sheriff@latah.id.us</A> ; <A
href="mailto:pa@latah.id.us">pa@latah.id.us</A> ; <A
href="mailto:jmills@lmtribune.com">jmills@lmtribune.com</A>
<BR>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:54
AM<BR>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Fw: Hignway Snipings<BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> While most of your comments are well taken, your
last statement about crackpot political/religious leaders is a bit of a
stretch.<BR>> Roger<BR>> -----Original
message-----<BR>> From: "Art Deco" <A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR>> Date:
Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:07:26 -0800<BR>> To: "Vision 2020" <A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>>
Subject: [Vision2020] Fw: Hignway Snipings<BR>> <BR>> >
Since this post appeared yesterday, I've received a number of comments,
including one which said I ought mind my own business since it was just a
couple of kids on a harmless lark and I ought trust the sheriff to handle
it. <BR>> > <BR>> > I don't believe
it was a harmless lark, and I don't trust the sheriff, left to his own devices
and prejudices, to conduct a complete, let-it-go-wherever-it-leads
investigation, and I don't trust the sheriff to release information found in
the investigation that the public not only has a right to know, but ought to
know.<BR>> > <BR>> > In the first post I
asked some questions. Here are some more:<BR>> >
<BR>> > One shot passed between two young women, likely
known to the defendants, coming through the windshield of the vehicle they
were in.<BR>> > <BR>> > Here are some
unanswered questions and statements that leads me to think that this action
warrants more that an unlawful discharge of a firearm charge, perhaps even an
attempted murder charge.<BR>> > <BR>> > At
one time in my life I was a superior marksman, I knew a bit about
firearms and was very adept at using them, including a .22 caliber
rifle.<BR>> > <BR>> > Again I ask these
questions because the news coverage has been more than just weak and
inadequate, but quite naive and a disservice to the
community.<BR>> > <BR>> > A WalMart
quality .22 rifle even with a WalMart quality scope on it is not a very
accurate weapon. Even in the hands of a marksman, the accuracy dwindles
considerably in ranges past 100 feet. Hence if the snipers were shooting
at the vehicle with the two women at a range where accuracy is questionable,
then regardless if they were only aiming at the windshield, then they were
certainly endangering the lives of the occupants.<BR>> >
<BR>> > What kind of 22. rifles were used in the
assaults? Was it a WalMart quality rifle or a high quality rifle
equipped with a high quality scope or laser sight? Where they using
ordinary .22 caliber bullets or higher power bullets? What position were
they in while firing? Was the rifle resting on something while
firing? How good of marksmen were the shooters? The answers to
these and other questions are relevant to the probable accuracy of the shots
and thus the amount danger the two young women were placed
in.<BR>> > <BR>> > Where did the suspects
get the rifles? Where the rifles their own? Their families?
Were they provided, in part, by some third party? Who all provided them
with instruction on these firearms?<BR>> >
<BR>> > What is the relationship between the two young women
fired upon and the shooters? Were the shooters aiming for the windshield
or one of the occupants?<BR>> > <BR>> >
Before we start calling this a harmless lark and calling for leniency for two
kids, we need to know a lot more information. I think that we would be
best served by having the FBI, DHS, and ATF involved heavily in this
investigation so that there is a higher probability that the relevant facts
will be found, that the facts will be made known to the public, and to make
sure that some of our local crackpot political/religious groups were not
involved in some way and have not groomed some more gullible, not-too-bright
kids to pull off something similar.<BR>> >
<BR>> > Wayne A. Fox<BR>> > 1009 Karen
Lane<BR>> > PO Box 9421<BR>> > Moscow,
ID 83843<BR>> > <BR>> > <A
href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>> > 208
882-7975<BR>> > <BR>> >
______________________________________<BR>> >
<BR>> > Alleged Deary teen vehicle shooter charged with bomb
possession<BR>> > Posted on: Monday, February 01,
2010, Moscow-Pullman Daily News<BR>> >
<BR>> > Court records identify Austin Rickert as the Deary
teen who was taken back into custody and charged with an additional felony
after a pipe bomb was found inside a residence Friday.<BR>>
> <BR>> > Rickert is accused of being involved in a
series of vehicle shootings on State Highway 8 near Helmer last
month.<BR>> > <BR>> > He was charged with
unlawful possession of destructive devices or bombs, according the Idaho State
Judiciary's online repository records.<BR>> >
<BR>> > Following the discovery of the bomb, the area was
evacuated and the Spokane Bomb Squad responded to the scene and neutralized
the explosive. The search was part of an ongoing investigation involving
Rickert and fellow alleged shooter Austin Medlock. The two 14-year-old Deary
High School freshmen were charged with two counts of unlawful discharge of a
firearm at a vehicle during a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse last
Monday. The Jan. 22 incident shut down a portion of State Highway 8 between
Deary and Bovill for several hours. Latah County Magistrate John Judge allowed
for the release of Medlock and Rickert into the custody of their parents on
the condition they not be out of sight of a parent except for when sleeping or
attending school. They also were prohibited from being around firearms and
will wear electronic monitoring devices, among other conditions.
<BR>> > <BR>> > The teens allegedly shot
as many as 20 vehicles with a .22 caliber rifle and a crossbow. The sheriff's
office was continuing to investigate the case this week to determine if
additional charges needed to be filed.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The teens allegedly discharged the weapons from a
three-level, 10-foot-tall fort located near the highway, according to court
records. Casings from the .22 and other evidence were apparently discovered
nearby, according to the document.<BR>> >
<BR>> > Medlock and Rickert are scheduled to appear in court
at 11 a.m. Wednesday.<BR>> > <BR>> >
<BR>> > ----- Original Message ----- <BR>>
> From: Art Deco <BR>> > To: Vision 2020
<BR>> > Cc: <A
href="mailto:jmills@lmtribune.com">jmills@lmtribune.com</A> ; Nathan Alford
Daily News ; <A href="mailto:asolan@dnews.com">asolan@dnews.com</A> ; Murf
Raquet Daily News ; <A href="mailto:dbauer@dnews.com">dbauer@dnews.com</A> ;
<A href="mailto:billf@lmtribune.com">billf@lmtribune.com</A> ; <A
href="mailto:sheriff@latah.id.us">sheriff@latah.id.us</A> ; <A
href="mailto:pa@latah.id.us">pa@latah.id.us</A> <BR>> >
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 1:34 PM<BR>> > Subject:
Hignway Snipings<BR>> > <BR>> >
<BR>> > I have to take the recent snipings at chip trucks
and personal vehicles allegedly by two Deary area teenage suspects as serious
business. I have some questions, however, that have not been answered by
newspaper accounts or press releases.<BR>> >
<BR>> > 1. According to the initial press
release of the incidents, the first reported sniping occurred last Friday just
before 1:00pm. yet the highway wasn't closed until about 3:45pm. What's
going on here? Shouldn't the highway have been closed as soon as
possible? Couldn't some of the snipings been prevented by such a
move? When snipings occur elsewhere, isn't sealing off and closing the
sniping area done immediately? It now appears the alleged snipers went
through a police roadblock unchallenged around 2:45pm, and before the highway
was closed.<BR>> > <BR>> >
2. Prior to the revelation about the possession of a pipe
bomb by one of the suspects, this was still a very serious matter. At
least twenty vehicles were fired upon. A bullet smashed the windshield
of a passenger car and passed between two young women inside. These were
local Deary area women apparently known by the suspects. Deary is not a
big place, hence doesn't it seem likely that the shooters knew exactly who
they were firing upon in this case? The big question: Why were
only two charges initially filed against the suspects?<BR>>
> <BR>> > 3. With the finding of the
pipe bomb, this becomes a much more serious matter demanding a much closer,
serious investigation, perhaps aided by the FBI, DHS, and ATF. What
explosives were used in making the pipe bomb? How did the suspect obtain
the explosives? What was the initial source of the explosives? Did
the suspect act totally alone? Or was he aided and abetted by others
including adults including members of some of the local crackpot
political/religious groups? Are there any ties (like between friends or
relatives) between the suspect and some of these crackpot groups? Was
the suspect not only encouraged by others but given material assistance and
instruction? I don't know the answers, but for the sake of local and
perhaps national security, these answers ought be found and
reported.<BR>> > <BR>> >
4. The press coverage has been meager. If this had
happened on I-90 in Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County would be swarmed by
national media, and at least some of the above kinds of questions (and many
more) asked and perhaps answered. In addition, the LMT revealed the name
of the pipe bomb suspect. The DN didn't claiming that the sheriff
wouldn't tell them, although it appeared that the LMT story was their
source. Is it the sheriff who withheld information or the DN, either
party perhaps protecting someone they considered needed
protecting?<BR>> > <BR>> > Again, I think
this is a very serious matter. This is not a private incident, it is a
blatant public crime. The public has a right to know the
details.<BR>> > <BR>> > Before making up
my mind about what I think should happen to the suspects or how area law
enforcement can change so that they can intelligently respond to these types
of incidents much faster, I await more information. I hope that it is
forthcoming. I'd hate to think that we are being subjected to another
Steven Sitler type cover-up.<BR>> > <BR>>
> <BR>> > Wayne A. Fox<BR>> > 1009
Karen Lane<BR>> > PO Box 9421<BR>> >
Moscow, ID 83843<BR>> > <BR>> > <A
href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>> > 208
882-7975<BR>> > <BR>> >
__________________________________________________________<BR>>
> Pipe bomb found at teen shooting suspect's home<BR>> >
By Joel Mills Of The Tribune<BR>> > <BR>>
> <BR>> > <BR>> > Latah County
officials rearrest 14-year-old after executing search warrant as part of
shooting investigation<BR>> > <BR>> > One
of two juveniles arrested in connection with the shooting of up to 20 vehicles
on State Highway 8 last week was retaken into custody after investigators
found a pipe bomb during a search of his room Thursday, according to the Latah
County Sheriff's Office. <BR>> > <BR>> >
Latah County Prosecutor William Thompson Jr. said authorities rearrested
Austin James Rickert Thursday after a PVC pipe stuffed with fireworks powder
and primed with a fuse was found in the room he uses at his grandfather's
residence on Forks Road near Helmer. <BR>> >
<BR>> > Thompson said the bomb was likely made before the
Jan. 22 shooting incident that lasted for more than three hours and
temporarily closed the highway between Deary and Bovill. <BR>>
> <BR>> > "We don't have anything to suggest he actually
made this device or possessed this device subsequent to his release," Thompson
said. <BR>> > <BR>> > Authorities allege
Rickert and his friend Austin Blake Medlock used two .22-caliber rifles and a
crossbow to shoot at vehicles from a three-story fort on Rickert's
grandfather's property, where the boy sometimes stays. <BR>>
> <BR>> > Most of the bullets hit tractor-trailers, but
at least two passenger vehicles were struck. No one was injured, but one round
passed through the passenger compartment of one car, narrowly missing two
girls. <BR>> > <BR>> > Thompson said
Rickert's father lives at the Forks Road residence full time. Rickert lives
with his mother in Deary but has a room reserved for him at the Forks Road
residence, he said. <BR>> > <BR>> >
Deputies were executing a search warrant as part of their investigation into
the shootings, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon by
sheriff's Lt. Brannon Jordan. Officials evacuated the area around the home,
and a bomb squad from Spokane neutralized the device, Jordan said.
<BR>> > <BR>> > Rickert appeared in court
Friday, where he was charged with felony unlawful possession of bombs or
destructive devices. Earlier this week, Rickert and Medlock - both 14-year-old
freshmen at Deary High School - were charged with unlawfully discharging a
firearm at a vehicle in connection with the Jan. 22 shootings.
<BR>> > <BR>> > Latah County Magistrate
John Judge released Medlock and Rickert to their parents last week, on the
condition neither leave the sight of one of their parents; that all guns be
removed from their homes; that they not touch a firearm; that the parents take
them to and from school; that they both wear electronic monitoring devices;
and they agree to be searched at any time by authorities. <BR>>
> <BR>> > Thompson said Rickert's rearrest is a separate
issue and was not due to a violation of Judge's conditions for release.
<BR>> > <BR>> > Rickert will remain in the
Latah County Jail for the weekend, and probably until scheduling hearings on
Wednesday for both juveniles, Thompson said. <BR>> >
<BR>> > Lewis County Magistrate Stephen Calhoun, the regular
juvenile judge for Latah County, will handle hearings for Rickert and Medlock
from now on, Thompson said. <BR>> > <BR>>
> He said while the investigation into the shootings and the pipe bomb is
ongoing, there is nothing to suggest the teens were planning a larger attack.
<BR>> > <BR>> > "What happened last Friday
was really serious and really dangerous," Thompson said. "We're waiting to see
if there is anything else behind this." <BR>> >
<BR>> > --- <BR>> > <BR>>
> Mills may be contacted at <A
href="mailto:jmills@lmtribune.com">jmills@lmtribune.com</A> or (208) 883-0564.
<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> >
___________________________________<BR>> >
<BR>> > Teen charged in shootings arrested after bomb
found<BR>> > Spokane Bomb Squad neutralizes device found in
suspect's residence<BR>> > Staff report<BR>>
> <BR>> > Posted on: Saturday, January 30,
2010<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>>
> <BR>> > One of the two teens charged with felonies in
last week's Highway 8 shootings near Helmer is back in custody after a pipe
bomb was discovered inside the residence following a search
warrant.<BR>> > <BR>> > Following the
discovery of the bomb, the area was evacuated and the Spokane Bomb Squad
responded to the scene and neutralized the explosive.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The search was part of an ongoing investigation
involving alleged shooters Austin B. Medlock and Austin J. Rickert. The two
14-year-old Deary High School freshmen each were charged with two counts of
unlawful discharge of a firearm at a vehicle during a hearing at the Latah
County Courthouse on Monday. The Jan. 22 incident shut down a portion of State
Highway 8 between Deary and Bovill for several hours.<BR>> >
<BR>> > Latah County dispatcher Jenny Bryant said the
department is not releasing the name of which of the boys was taken back into
custody as of Friday evening. The teen has been charged with unlawful
possession of bombs or destructive devices along with the two other felony
counts. <BR>> > <BR>> > Latah County
Magistrate John Judge allowed for the release of Medlock and Rickert into the
custody of their parents on the condition they not be out of sight of a parent
except for when sleeping or attending school. They also were prohibited from
being around firearms and will wear electronic monitoring devices, among other
conditions.<BR>> > <BR>> > The teens
allegedly shot as many as 20 vehicles with a .22 caliber rifle and a crossbow.
The sheriff's office was continuing to investigate the case this week to
determine if additional charges needed to be filed.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The teens allegedly discharged the weapons from a
three-level, 10-foot-tall fort located near the highway, according to court
records. Casings from the .22 and other evidence were apparently discovered
nearby, according to the document.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The two teens allegedly left the fort around 2:45
p.m. to attend basketball practice in Deary and actually went through the
vehicle identification section of the roadblock outside of Helmer. They were
eventually taken into custody separately later Friday
evening.<BR>> > <BR>> > Medlock and
Rickert are scheduled to again appear in court at 11 a.m.
Wednesday.<BR>> > <BR>> >
_______________________________<BR>> > <BR>>
> Courtesy of today's (January 23, 2010) Moscow-Pullman Daily
News.<BR>> > <BR>> >
------------------------------------------------------<BR>>
> <BR>> > Boys charged for vehicle shootings near
Helmer<BR>> > No one injured during Friday afternoon
incident<BR>> > Staff report<BR>> >
<BR>> > Posted on: Saturday, January 23,
2010<BR>> > <BR>> > Two male juveniles
were in custody at the Latah County Jail on Friday<BR>> >
night for allegedly shooting several vehicles on State Highway 8
near<BR>> > Helmer.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The boys have been charged with unlawful discharge
of a firearm at a<BR>> > vehicle, a felony, according to a
media release from Latah County<BR>> > Sheriff's Office Lt.
Brannon Jordan. Officials did not release the boys'<BR>> >
names Friday.<BR>> > <BR>> > No injuries
have been reported related to the shootings, the release
states.<BR>> > <BR>> > The sheriff's
department began receiving reports of vehicles being
struck<BR>> > by gunfire in the Forks Road area east of
Helmer at about 1 p.m. Friday.<BR>> > Dispatcher Nathan
Reetz said the shooting continued over the course of the<BR>>
> afternoon, with about 20 shots fired. Officials believe about 10
vehicles<BR>> > were struck, though there is not yet an
official count.<BR>> > <BR>> > Reetz said
about eight of the vehicles were semi trucks. Dispatcher
Marci<BR>> > Williams said the semis were operated by Jack
Buell Trucking.<BR>> > <BR>> > Sheriff's
officials and Idaho State Police shut down the highway from
3:44<BR>> > p.m. to 4:31 p.m. as they secured the area of
the shootings. Officials did<BR>> > not locate anyone on the
scene, but later identified the location from<BR>> > which
the shots were fired and identified the juveniles, according to
the<BR>> > report.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The boys were taken into custody at 7:20 p.m. and
8:34 p.m., respectively,<BR>> > Reetz said. He said no
further information about the suspects was<BR>> > available
as of press time Friday.<BR>> > <BR>> >
Information about what type of firearm was used in the shootings also
was<BR>> > unavailable.<BR>> >
<BR>> > The incident remains under investigation, according
to the release, but<BR>> > the sheriff's office has
determined there is no further threat.<BR>> >
<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> >
<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>>
><BR>></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>