Deputies shot Craig Johnson after he pointed a gun at them, ISP reports

A Bonner County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a Priest Lake real estate agent Tuesday morning, Idaho State Police say, after the man pointed a handgun at officers who had come to arrest him.

The deputy who shot and killed Craig A. Johnson was identified Friday as Sgt. Shawn Deem, an eight-year veteran of the department.

Idaho State Police, which is leading the investigation, released new details of the events leading up to Johnson’s death Friday.

The ISP reported that deputies arrived at Johnson’s Coolin home to serve a $30,000 felony warrant for alleged aggravated assault on a police officer Tuesday morning.

Deputies succeeded in making contact with Johnson via telephone and a police vehicle public address system. During their negotiations, however, Johnson reportedly came out of the house and pointed a handgun at deputies, “forcing them to respond with deadly force,” the ISP said.

Johnson died in the back of an ambulance as he was being taken to a medical helicopter.

The arrest warrant was issued after an encounter between another deputy and Johnson at the home late Sunday night. Johnson’s wife had requested deputies check her husband’s welfare when she couldn’t reach him by phone, according to the ISP.

When Deputy Gary Madden arrived and approached the well-lit house, Johnson went out on a second-story porch and waved a gun, demanding that Madden get off his property, according to court records. Madden wrote that he identified himself as a deputy, drew his gun and took cover behind his patrol car as he yelled for Johnson to drop the gun.

Instead, Johnson turned around and went back inside his house and Madden left the scene. The entire encounter lasted four minutes, according to dispatch records.

The shooting surprised the Coolin community. Johnson was well-liked and described as easygoing by friends and family.

A 1984 graduate of Mead High School, he was a member of two successful bands, including the Mayfield Four.