Unanswered Questions Surrounding Police Shooting Death of 22-Year-Old Nampa Man in Downtown Boise

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Family members, reporters, and police accountability advocates have been demanding answers for months regarding the police shooting in downtown Boise that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old Nampa man. However, crucial details surrounding the incident, such as the reason for the shooting, whether the victim posed a threat, and the number of shots fired, remain unknown.

The shooting occurred in the early morning of June 24 when a Boise police officer shot and killed Payton Wasson, who was under investigation for alleged gang activity and drug dealing. Another individual, Mario Garza, 27, of Kuna, who was with Wasson at the time, was arrested and charged with three felonies.

Despite the passage of five months since the shooting, the public has been denied access to the body-camera footage worn by the police officers involved, leaving many unanswered questions. Witnesses who were present at the scene have contradicted the police department’s account of the incident.

In an interview from the Ada County Jail, Garza, who is currently in custody on a $50,000 bond, stated that Wasson was simply running away and did not threaten the police in any way. Garza claimed that the body-camera footage would support his version of events. However, access to the footage has been restricted to Garza and his legal defense team, as is customary in ongoing criminal cases.

The Boise Police Department has a policy of not releasing body-camera footage or any investigative documents until after an investigation is completed, which can take months or even years. The only way for the public to view the footage earlier is through the courts, as evidence in a criminal case or lawsuit.

Pierce Murphy, who previously directed the city’s police oversight office for 14 years, has been advocating for the earlier release of officers’ body-camera footage in use-of-force incidents. He believes that it is now expected by the public for the footage to be released within a reasonable timeframe after a fatal officer-involved shooting or any use of force that raises public questions.

The shooting of Wasson sparked protests outside Boise City Hall, with up to 100 people rallying to express their concerns about police misconduct and demand more transparency from the department. The lack of information provided by the authorities has only fueled speculation and mistrust among the public.

This lack of transparency comes at a time when Boise has experienced a high number of fatal police shootings, surpassing previous decades’ records. In the 1990s, a similar lack of information and a crisis in confidence led to the establishment of the city’s police oversight office.

When information is withheld, Murphy argues that people naturally fill the void with their own assumptions, often assuming the worst. He believes that Boise cannot isolate itself from the rest of the country, where the release of body-camera footage has become a common practice.

Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar defended his officers, stating that they face potentially dangerous situations daily and use deadly force only when there is a threat to public safety. He expressed gratitude for the work of the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force and the outside prosecutor who will review the incident.

Yet, several details presented by the police department in their initial account of the shooting do not align with security camera footage obtained from a nearby retail store. The footage shows that none of the three individuals involved were inside Garza’s car when the officers approached them, as claimed by the police. Additionally, the department’s statements about the location of the shooting conflict with the footage.

The security camera footage captures the moments leading up to the shooting, showing the three individuals approaching Garza’s parked car in a downtown parking lot. Garza and Wasson can be seen holding a cellphone and flicking a cigarette butt, respectively, before leaving the car and walking away.

The discrepancy between the police narrative and the security footage raises further questions about the accuracy of the initial account provided by the authorities. It highlights the need for transparency and the release of the body-camera footage to provide a clearer picture of what transpired that night.

As the investigation into the shooting continues, the public remains frustrated by the lack of information and calls for greater transparency from the Boise Police Department. The upcoming trial of Mario Garza may provide an opportunity for the public to view the body-camera footage, albeit restricted to the courtroom. However, until then, key details surrounding the incident and the events leading up to it remain shrouded in secrecy..