Prosecutor: Boise officers justified in fatal 2019 shooting

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Two Boise Police Department officers who fatally shot a woman in October 2019 were justified in their actions after officers say she pointed a BB gun at them, an Idaho prosecutor said.

Officers responded to a report Oct. 20 of a woman acting suspiciously and knocking on doors in Boise before finding 33-year-old Amber Dewitt of Caldwell sitting in a vehicle, police said.

Dewitt pointed a pellet gun at officers who believed it was handgun and subsequently opened fire on the woman, authorities said.

Dewitt died of multiple gunshot wounds, and was pronounced dead at the scene, a coroner said.

The Meridian Police Department, which led the investigation, issued a news release a few days after the fatal shooting with photos showing the BB gun Dewitt held and a similar-looking handgun.

Authorities announced the prosecutor's decision Wednesday.

"As with any critical incident, this was a very difficult situation for everyone involved. Our hearts go out to all, including the deceased's family and the officers who were involved," Deputy Chief Ron Winegar said. "Situations involving the use of deadly force are extremely rare and we are grateful that our officers were not physically injured in this incident."