Boise City Wire

Media Advisory: On July 1, 2023 at 12:30 pm at City Hall West, 333 N. Mark Stall Pl., Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar will be available to speak with members of the media regarding the recent officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Payton Wasson.  

Saturday’s shooting in downtown Boise was a tragedy for the Wasson family, it was a tragedy for those who were witnesses and for our community,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “If this incident involved a member of my family, I too would want more information about what happened.  We are investigating what happened to ensure integrity and accountability. To that end, an internal investigation is underway.”

The officer involved in Saturday’s officer-involved shooting is Officer C. Feldner, an 8 ½-year veteran Boise Police Officer.  He is on paid administrative leave, which is standard following a critical incident. BPD is committed to providing the community the information we can about the incident and will release more as soon as possible upon completion of the CITF investigation and review by an out-of-county prosecutor.

Previous news releases about the incident are included below. In response to media inquiries, we are also providing information about a related arrest early Saturday morning.

Arrested: Mario Garza, 26, Kuna

Charges: Possession of a controlled substance (F)

At approximately 1:00 am on Saturday, June 24, 2023, near 5th and Idaho, BPD was investigating a situation involving individuals and a vehicle involved in what officers believed were gang activity and/or narcotics sales.  Officers identified the owner of the vehicle as Mario Garza. Garza’s Probation and Parole Officer requested BPD conduct a search of Garza’s vehicle and person. At approximately 2:12 am, officers attempted to contact Garza and a second suspect when they returned to the vehicle.  Upon attempted contact, the second suspect fled on foot. Officers observed him with a firearm in his hand (more information can be found below).

Garza was detained and during a search of his person, he was found to be in possession of fentanyl pills.  He was arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail for felony possession of a controlled substance.  Garza is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Previously Released: June 26, 2023

The suspect who was shot and injured on June 24, 2023, passed away in the hospital on June 25, 2023.  The Ada County Coroner’s Office will release his identity pending notification of next of kin. The Ada County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) led by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate this critical incident. Detectives ask anyone who witnessed the critical incident to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790 and ask to speak with an Ada County Sheriff’s detective.

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Previously Released: June 24, 2023

Shortly after 2 am, Boise Police officers were investigating a suspicious vehicle near 5th and Main Streets as part of an ongoing investigation. When officers attempted to make contact with the occupants of the vehicle, one suspect fled on foot toward Idaho Street holding a firearm. Officers chased the suspect and gave commands for the suspect to stop, which were disregarded.  One BPD officer fired his duty weapon. The suspect was struck and injured. A firearm was recovered next to the suspect. Officers immediately began life-saving care while others secured the scene. Ada County Paramedics took the suspect to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

No officers were physically injured during the incident.   As is customary, the involved officer will be placed on administrative leave, per policy.  The information in this news release is considered preliminary pending the CITF investigation.

The Ada County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) led by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this critical incident. The CITF investigation is ongoing and detectives ask anyone who witnessed the critical incident to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.

All video of this incident will be reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Original source can be found here.