Boise, Idaho – Two fugitives who sparked a massive manhunt in Idaho are now accused of murdering two individuals while on the lam, authorities revealed on Thursday. Skylar Meade and Nicholas Umphenour were apprehended after allegedly carrying out an ambush and shooting that wounded three officers at a hospital in Boise, as announced by the Boise Police Department Chief Ron Winegar during a press briefing.
Chief Winegar also disclosed that Meade and Umphenour are suspected in two homicides of men found deceased in rural areas of northern Idaho. Handcuffs used by Meade during his escape were discovered at the crime scene. The escape vehicle utilized by the duo was found in northern Idaho, with authorities confirming that they subsequently absconded in a different vehicle.
“The motive behind their actions remains unclear at this time,” Winegar stated. Meade had managed to flee from the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, located a few miles west of downtown Boise, before being returned to prison by two state corrections officers. Meanwhile, Umphenour unleashed gunfire in front of the emergency room in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as per reports from the Boise Police Department.
Skylar Meade, a convicted felon, evaded a 20-year prison sentence for a 2017 shooting involving assault or battery with a deadly weapon. Additionally, he had prior convictions for felony drug possession, grand theft, and smuggling contraband into a correctional facility. Moreover, authorities described him as a member of a white supremacist gang, with his incarceration commencing in October of 2016 and slated to conclude in 2036.
Seeking context on Nicholas Umphenour, who is recognized as Meade’s accomplice, detectives have not divulged his age or clarified any potential local criminal history. The duo’s arrest has brought a sense of relief to the community and law enforcement, eager to conclude the violent saga that unfolded in Idaho.