A Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 45-year-old man Tuesday evening after he pointed a firearm at the officer and fired multiple rounds, striking the department’s K9 dog, authorities said. The incident unfolded in Kootenai County following a report of an armed suspicious person who had made contact with children in the area.
Deputies responded around 8:20 p.m. to the report involving Derek Robert Martin of Bonner County. When confronted, Martin pointed a firearm at a deputy and fled the scene. A Kootenai County Sheriff’s K9 named Appa tracked Martin during the pursuit.
Martin discharged his weapon multiple times during the encounter. One round struck and injured K9 Appa. Several minutes later, a deputy returned fire, fatally striking Martin. A SWAT team also responded to the confrontation.
Sheriff Robert Norris told the Spokesman-Review in a statement, “Let this incident serve as a clear reminder to anyone who chooses to violently confront the men and women of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.” The deputies involved in the shooting were not identified by name.
The Idaho State Police is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting, which is standard procedure for law enforcement use-of-force incidents. The condition of K9 Appa was not disclosed.
The incident marks another instance of armed confrontation with law enforcement in Idaho. In July, three people were killed in a shooting at a Twin Falls In-N-Out restaurant, highlighting ongoing public safety concerns across the state.