77-Year-Old Gunman Killed After Opening Fire at an Idaho Sheriff’s Office

A 77-year-old gunman was killed following a standoff with law enforcement after opening fire outside and inside a northern Idaho sheriff’s office on Friday afternoon, injuring three people, according to authorities, as reported by The New York Post.

The shooting occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office in Wallace, located in Shoshone County.

Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy identified the shooter as 77-year-old John Drake during a press conference following the incident.

BREAKING: Wallace Idaho Shooter is now confirmed dead at the scene by Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.

Unconfirmed reports reveal that the shooter’s identity is John Drake, a 77 year old male from Mullan, Idaho pic.twitter.com/WfVxl2hH4w

— Idaho Tribune (@IdahoTribune) December 27, 2025

According to Eddy, Drake began firing outside the sheriff’s office, shooting through the windshield of a pickup truck parked on the street near the building.

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Two women inside the vehicle were struck in the leg by gunfire. An on-duty sheriff’s office employee was also injured during the shooting.

Eddy said the officer was not directly hit by a bullet but was nicked in the ear by flying glass caused by the gunfire. CNN reported the injury resulted from shattered glass during the initial shots.

Authorities confirmed that all three victims suffered minor injuries and were treated. No fatalities were reported among the victims.

After firing outside the building, Drake entered the lobby of the sheriff’s office and continued shooting, according to reporting by the Shoshone News Press.

Officials said Drake then barricaded himself inside the building, prompting an extensive law enforcement response.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including local and regional law enforcement units and a SWAT team.

The sheriff’s office and the surrounding area were secured as officers worked to contain the situation and evacuate nearby locations.

Drake was later shot and killed by law enforcement following a standoff. Sheriff Eddy said the suspect was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m., roughly two hours after the shooting began.

“This is a fairly significant event when you have a person that goes into a lobby of a sheriff’s office and starts a shootout,” Robert Norris, the sheriff of Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters.

Officials confirmed that no one inside the jail portion of the sheriff’s office was injured during the incident. The facility houses both administrative offices and detention areas.

Authorities have not released information regarding Drake’s motive, and investigators said the incident remains under active investigation.

Law enforcement agencies are reviewing the events leading up to the shooting and the suspect’s actions before arriving at the sheriff’s office.

No additional details were immediately released regarding whether Drake had prior interactions with the sheriff’s office or whether he acted alone. Officials said further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.

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