WALLACE, Idaho – Residents of Wallace were left in shock after 77 year old, John Drake opened gunfire inside of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office. Drake walked in shortly after 2:30 p.m. Friday. The act erupted a gunfight between law enforcement and Drake in the heart of Wallace for more than an hour.
A local man, John Sandford, witnessed the entire incident from a friend’s apartment across the street.
“I heard a shot and went to the window and saw two people running north. There was a guy on the sheriff’s station steps with a shotgun firing at them. They managed to get away and I found out later, they did get hit,” Sandford said.
Sandford described how the shooter moved in and out of the sheriff’s office, occasionally firing at people outside. He expressed relief that he was not caught in the crossfire.
“I’m shocked that this happened. Everybody is. It’s not normal,” he said.
Sheriff William Eddy shared his experience of the night, revealing that he was at home with his wife when he received the call about the shooting. Sheriff Eddy shares that the suspect’s wife contacted the sheriff’s office in the last 24 hours.
“Just his wife is the only one we’ve made contact with,” Eddy said regarding the suspect’s family. She didn’t even know he had left the house.”
The shooting has left the community in disbelief as Wallace is known for its safety and scenic beauty.
“I would have never imagined this ever happening at any sheriff’s office. So, my emotions are actually kind of all over the place still,” Eddy said.
Three officers were involved in neutralizing Drake. The criminal and officer involved shooting investigation is ongoing.
Sandford has a clear recount of when the suspect was shot.
“Three times they told him, do not touch that gun. Next thing you know, he must have touched the gun because they fired on him. And then they sent a dog in, and, I was impressed with that dog. That dog grabbed him, pulled him out of the building, down the steps, across the sidewalk and into the street,” he said.
