Details emerge in deputy involved shooting case

WALLACE – The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office has released new details regarding the deputy involved shooting that occurred on Oct. 29.

In addition to a better time line of events, the update from Sheriff Mike Gunderson reveals the names of those involved.

The incident began at approximately 12:19 a.m. Monday morning when Deputies John Richter and Jake Delaney responded to a report of suspicious activity in the area of F and Washington Streets next the old Sands Motel.

Upon arrival, deputies located a 38-year-old male inside a motorhome, which did not belong to him, parked on the northeast corner of the property belonging to Nickerson’s Towing.

While the deputies were in the process of detaining the male, another individual exited a van parked nearby and began firing in the direction of the deputies.

While taking action to keep the now hand-cuffed detainee safe, both deputies returned fire.

The shooter, later identified as 80-year-old Richard B. Willoughby Jr, was hit three times in the exchange of gun fire.

Deputies quickly rendered first aid to Willoughby, who was subsequently transported first to Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg then Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, for further medical treatment.

He was later declared to be in stable condition the morning of the incident.

The detained male was unharmed and was cited on scene for unlawful entry.

Neither deputy was injured in the shooting and both are currently on administrative leave, per department protocol pending investigation.

The investigation of the incident is being headed up by Idaho State Police.

Court records indicate that Willoughby has yet to be charged with any crimes associated with his actions on Oct. 29. He does, however, have an outstanding warrant in Shoshone County stemming from a malicious injury to property charge on Aug. 8, 2018.

It is unknown at this time what his motivations were for opening fire or if he was associated with the initially detained male.

The Shoshone News-Press will release more information regarding this incident as it is released.

To see our original coverage, visit www.shoshonenewspress.com/local_news/20181029/suspect_injured_in_deputy_involved_shooting_