Officials work to ID victims in police shooting, house fire

MERIDIAN, Idaho – Authorities say two bodies found in the wreckage of a burned-down house after an officer-involved shooting likely won’t be identified until after dental records are found or DNA testing is complete.

Ada County Coroner Dotti Owens said in a prepared statement that the identification process could take some time.

Three people died in the ordeal that began Wednesday night when residents of a rural home near Meridian called to report someone trying to break into their house. Law enforcement officers arrived a short time later to find the suspected prowler, armed with a gun, near the front door of the home.

They shot at the prowler, who retreated inside. The house caught fire a short time later.

Two of the residents were able to escape the home, but one was badly burned and died the next day. A third resident died in the fire, as did someone believed to be the prowler.

The law enforcement officers who shot at the suspect – Kuna Police Officer Sage Hickam and Ada County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Matkin – were not injured during the confrontation.