UPDATE: Driver who fatally shot himself in Chubbuck traffic stop said he didn’t want to go to jail, according to police
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UPDATE (3 p.m. Thursday):
Chubbuck police put out a news release on Facebook that added further details on the events that led to a man fatally shooting himself on Wednesday night.
Before the man died around 8:50 p.m., an Idaho State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop due to his vehicle not having working headlights. The driver pulled into the Petco parking lot.
“The Trooper contacted the male and informed him of the reason for the traffic stop and noted that the subject seemed to be extremely nervous, so he asked him to exit the vehicle. The male refused to exit the vehicle and stated that he did not want to go to jail. He then presented a handgun and pointed it at himself,” the post reads.
The post says the trooper tried to grab the gun from the man to stop him, but he resisted. The trooper stepped away from the vehicle, and “moments later the subject used the firearm to shoot himself.”
“The trooper began life-saving measures with the assistance of other emergency responders who arrived on scene. The subject was ultimately transported to the hospital via ambulance, but sadly he died. Out of respect for the subject’s family and friends, we will not be releasing his name,” the post reads.
This is an ongoing investigation, and the Chubbuck Police Department won’t be releasing further details of the incident.
UPDATE (1 p.m. Thursday):
A driver died by suicide during a Wednesday night traffic stop, authorities said.
The identity of the man who had been driving a pick-up truck has not been released.
“The driver was transported via ambulance to the hospital, but unfortunately, he is deceased,” confirmed Chief Nick Sasser of the Chubbuck Police Department in a written message to EastIdahoNews.com.
Sasser also confirmed that it was an Idaho State Police officer who initiated the traffic stop. The officer was not injured in the incident.
The Chubbuck Police Department is handling the investigation.
EastIdahoNews.com does not typically report on suicides. An exception has been made in this case due to the public nature of the incident.
ORIGINAL STORY (9:50 p.m. Wednesday):
CHUBBUCK — Multiple law enforcement officers are on the scene of an incident in front of Petco on the 4300 block of Yellowstone Avenue in Chubbuck.
A man reportedly shot himself during a traffic stop, according to police, and officers are now investigating the situation.
Chubbuck and Pocatello police officers responded to the scene, along with Idaho State Police troopers, Bannock County Sheriff’s deputies, and two ambulances with the Chubbuck Fire Department.
Drivers and others in the area are asked to use caution.
Further details were not released.
EastIdahoNews.com will update this story as we receive additional information.