Names released of officers involved in shooting

The Idaho Falls Police Department released the names of those involved in an officer involved shooting on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The two officers involved at the time of the shooting were Sergeant Patrick McKenna and Officer Earl Laughter.

McKenna was near Officer Laughter when Laughter fired his gun.

Idaho Falls Police Chief, Bryce Johnson said both are on paid administrative leave until the investigation process if complete.

Sergeant McKenna has been with the Idaho Falls police department for 27 years.

McKenna has worked as a patrol officer, K9 officer and field training officer.

Officer Laughter has served in the department for over 4 years.

He was promoted in 2015, and has served in the patrol division as well as a probation officer.

Around 2:00 p.m on Tuesday, police were called to North Center Avenue and Elm Street after a person called in a “suspicious person” who was later identified as Shane McVey, 54.

Officer tried to talk with McVey, but he ran away and entered an apartment building.

When officers attempted to apprehend him, McVey displayed a weapon.

That is when Laughter fired his gun.

Officers immediately began performing CPR on McVey until EMS arrived.

The incident lasted only 22 minutes from the time the call came into police to the time McVey was sent to the hospital by ambulance.

McVey was pronounced dead by medical staff shortly after the incident occurred, according to Johnson.

Johnson clarified and elaborated on the details of the incident at an incident briefing on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

Johnson said the original release said three officers responded.

The initial response was two, McKenna and Laughter, who were there at the time of the shooting.

Shortly after that, two more officers arrived and then lots of officers arrived shortly after that, according to Johnson.

Immediately after the shooting happened, the officers on the scene started first aid to McVey.

Johnson said one of the first responding officers served as a military medic and had a medic bag in his trunk. He gave lifesaving treatment the best he could to McVey.

Johnson met personally with the McVey family to notify them of what happened.

“The family is really an incredible family. Understandably, they are grieving. They thanked the officers for responding and especially wanted to thank those officers who provided first aid as quickly as they could,” Johnson said. “I told the family that as soon as we have those answers, I will go back and personally meet with them and give them all of the information.”

The family asked Johnson for privacy and said that they will not comment at this time.

Johnson named the various agencies involved in this incident. The agencies include the Idaho Falls Police department, The Idaho Falls Fire Department, Idaho State Police and The Eastern Idaho Regional Critical Incident Task Force.

Johnson said the investigation is as transparent as it possibly can be.