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SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — Public records show a woman fatally shot by police in northern Idaho was struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Jeanetta Riley's husband, Shane Riley, was at a loss for how to help his suicidal wife when he took her to a hospital in Sandpoint on July 8, according to documents obtained by the Bonner County Daily Bee (http://bit.ly/1xMUiPE ) under Idaho's public records law. Seconds after police arrived, two officers shot Jeanetta Riley after she refused commands to drop a knife and allegedly advanced on officers.
Shane Riley told police the couple were homeless and staying at a campground on Shepard Lake in Sagle. They had been drinking when he told his wife he planned to leave her so he could go into recovery.
Shane Riley said his 35-year-old wife made bleak statements about not making it through the night and was heard breaking apart a disposable razor to extract the blade.
When Shane Riley drove her to Sandpoint in search of help, his wife took up a fillet knife and vowed to stab anyone who tried to help her, including police.
They arrived at the hospital, and Shane Riley advised a receptionist that his wife was outside with a knife, asking her to call 911.
Video footage of the deadly encounter shows Officers Michael Valenzuela and Skylar Ziegler reacting to a movement by Jeanetta Riley by lurching backward, but that movement was not within the view of the camera.
Jeanetta Riley can be heard on the video cursing at officers and saying, "Bring it on!"
Five shots were fired during the confrontation, three of which came from Valenzuela's AR-15 rifle and two of which came from Ziegler's .40-caliber Glock pistol.
An autopsy found her blood alcohol level was 0.33, and she had methamphetamine in her system. The autopsy also concluded that Riley was pregnant, but the sheriff's report does not indicate how far along she was in her pregnancy.
Six syringes were found under the passenger seat of her van.
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Information from: Bonner County (Idaho) Daily Bee, http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com
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