Boise Police shooting of an armed robbery suspect was ruled justified

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Boise, ID - Four Boise Police Department officers were justified in their use of force by shooting during a September 24, 2024, incident that resulted in injuries to Adam Lee Cook, according to a ruling released Monday by Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Fredback.

The determination came after Fredback reviewed officers' body camera footage, and a complete investigation was conducted by the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force, led by the Meridian Police Department.

The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Corporal Gutierrez and Officers Jayne, Yanna, and Bonas.

According to the prosecutor's description of events, Cook was identified as the primary suspect in an armed robbery before the fatal encounter. Cook "purposely evaded capture by recklessly eluding police officers and endangering the public."

The incident escalated when Cook fled on foot through a residential neighborhood and into the backyard of a family's home, where he hid in and behind sheds on the property.

"Cook repeatedly refused to comply with officer commands to surrender and show his hands while leading officers to believe he possessed a firearm," Fredback wrote in his assessment.

The shooting occurred when Cook emerged from behind a shed in what appeared to be a threatening position. However, the suspect did not have a gun at that time.

"By stepping into view while in a shooter's position with what appeared to be a gun in his hand, it was certainly reasonable for the officers to believe that Cook posed a threat of death or serious physical injury to the officers," the prosecutor stated.

Fredback noted additional concerns about public safety, writing that "from the officers' perspectives, engaging Cook in a shootout in the backyard of an occupied home in a residential neighborhood placed the public at risk of death or serious injury."

The prosecutor described Cook as "dangerous, desperate, and known to have been armed," concluding that his "attempt to avoid arrest after committing an armed robbery created a reasonable threat of death or serious injury to law enforcement or the public."

In his final determination, Fredback did acknowledge a crucial detail: "It is true that at the time deadly force was used, Cook no longer possessed the firearm used in the recent armed robbery. However, officers had no way of knowing that fact, and Cook's behavior was clearly intended to lead officers to believe he had a gun."