On February 11, 2024 at about 2am, deputies were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the area of W. Seneca Dr. and S. Five Mile Rd. in Boise. A calling party told Ada County Dispatch that they heard a loud bang near their residence, and when they went to investigate, 23-year-old Dominic Soto fired a round from a handgun toward the calling party.
Deputies arrived minutes later. Deputy Colton McKone located Soto near the intersection. Soto was holding a handgun to his head and walking toward a group of deputies standing on Five Mile Rd.
A group of deputies were located north of Soto’s location on Five Mile Rd. near Blackhawk Dr. Deputy McKone was located south of the group of deputies. After recognizing safety and crossfire concerns, Deputy McKone quickly left the safety of the cover provided by his patrol vehicle to confront Soto.
Soto turned away from the other deputies and faced Deputy McKone. Deputy McKone told Soto multiple times to drop the handgun, which Soto ignored. Soto swayed, dropped his elbow and head, causing the firearm to move and point towards deputies. Deputy McKone discharged his service weapon three times. Soto simultaneously shot himself in the head.
Boise Police officers assisted deputies with rendering medical aid until Ada County Paramedics arrived. While Soto had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, the investigation found that Deputy McKone’s rounds struck Soto in the right shoulder, abdomen, and right hip.
Soto was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. The Ada County Coroner’s Office found Soto’s cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death was ruled as a suicide. Blood toxicology showed evidence of ethanol.
The incident was investigated by the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force, which does an independent investigation of all uses of lethal force in Ada County. The Boise Police Department was the lead agency for this incident.
Gem County Prosecuting Attorney Erick B. Thomson reviewed the incident.
“As Soto had just fired upon a civilian, McKone rightly felt that every individual in the neighborhood and every officer involved was in danger when Soto refused to drop then gun, which became immediate when Soto swayed, changing the firearm’s direction to point towards McKone. It is this office’s opinion that no criminal charges shall be filed.” – Gem County Prosecuting Attorney Erick B. Thomson
The Gem County Prosecutor’s Office determined Deputy McKone to be justified in his actions.
The redacted report can be read here. The video report can be seen here. The letter of declination can be read here.