Officers, woman shot ID’d in Sandpoint hospital shooting

Three Sandpoint police officers shot and killed 35-year-old Jeanette Riley on July 8 when she refused to drop a knife outside Bonner General Hospital, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said. Officers Skylar Ziegler, Mike Valenzuela and Garrett Johnson fired the rounds that killed Riley on Third Street in front of the emergency entrance, according to a news release. The officers have all been employed by the Sandpoint City Police for five years or less, according to the release. Valenzuela has been with the department for five years, Ziegler for three and Johnson for one. Johnson was in field training at the time of the shooting, according to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office. Riley exited a white van armed with a knife after a call came in of a “weapons offence,” according to the news release. The Sheriff’s Office said Riley walked toward the officers and ignored repeated commands to drop the knife when they opened fire. The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the incident. Those with information about the incident are asked to contact Sgt. Gary Johnston, a detective with the Sheriff’s Office, at 208-263-8417 ext. 3058.