Audiotape Captures Fatal Idaho Gunfight

BOISE, Idaho —  A police officer was killed, a second was wounded and two suspects were shot to death in a gunfight outside a tavern early Saturday that was captured on audiotape.

Mark Stall, 29, was the first Boise officer to die in the line of duty. “This didn’t have to happen,” Police Chief Larry Paulson said at a morning news conference as officers wept in the lobby nearby.

Stall, who had been with the department three years, died during surgery at a hospital.

The second officer, who was not identified, had injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Paulson said the conflict began when two officers stopped a suspicious vehicle about 1:20 a.m. One of the officers made the tape.

An officer can be heard telling the driver to get out of the car, raise his arms and lift his jacket. Then there was a yell, “Look out!” and a series of gunshots. Seconds later, someone screams, “Officer down!”

Another voice yells, “Help! Don’t shoot us. . . .” Officers can be heard calling for an ambulance and trying to calm one of the wounded lawmen.

“Where’re ya shot, buddy?” one officer asks.

“Here,” another answers. “I don’t know, but I mean my legs caved out . . . my hip, my shoulders . . . killin’ me.”

“OK. You’re going to be OK,” an officer says.