Woman shot by police was 'erratic, aggressive'

SANDPOINT — The woman who was killed in an armed confrontation with Sandpoint Police on July 8 was brought to Bonner General Health by her husband because he said she was exhibiting “erratic” and “aggressive” behavior, according to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

The husband, who was not identified by sheriff’s officials, came to the facility’s emergency department and stated that Jeanetta Marie Riley was armed with a knife.

“The man said his wife was threatening to attack anyone trying to approach her. The man said he did not know what to do or where he could take his wife to get help,” Det. Sgt. Gary Johnston said in the news release.

The man left the lobby and BGH initiated its lock-down procedures. At 9:13 p.m., three Sandpoint officers were dispatched to the hospital in two marked patrol units.

Officers arrived at 9:15 p.m. and located Riley in a white Chevrolet Astro van parked in front of the emergency department on North Third Avenue. Riley immediately exited the van armed with a knife and engaged officers, the news release said.

Riley refused to drop the knife or stop her approach, sheriff’s officials said.

At 9:16 p.m., dispatchers received a report of shots fired. Officers secured the knife and immediately began life-saving measures. Nearby Bonner EMS and medical personnel were summoned and Riley was rushed into the emergency department, but she succumbed to her injuries.

A Bonner EMS log indicated Riley was shot in the chest.

Sheriff’s detectives confirmed that two of the three officers discharged their weapons and a total of five shots were fired. Riley was shot in very close proximity to the officers, although the exact distance is being withheld until the conclusion of the investigation.

The news release did not disclose which officers opened fire. The officers involved in the incident have been identified as Garrett Johnson, Michael Valenzuela and Skylar Ziegler.

Valenzuela and Ziegler have been on the force for five years and three-and-a-half years, respectively. Johnson has been on the force for one-and-a-half years and was undergoing field training at the time of the incident, sheriff’s officials have said.

All three officers are on administrative leave, a standard practice in officer-involved shootings, while the investigation is pending.

Documents on file in 1st District Court indicate Riley had mental health and substance abuse issues.

Riley, whose maiden name is Belmont, married Shane Bruce Riley in Hope in 2012. The couple, who had no children together but did have a minor child living with them, lived southwest of Priest River, according to court documents.