In a disturbing turn of events, an escaped inmate and another suspect are being sought by police after a planned escape and shooting at corrections officers in Boise, Idaho. The incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday morning when officers from the Idaho Department of Corrections were trying to transfer inmate Skylar Meade back to the corrections facility, following his treatment at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

As the officers prepared to return Meade, an unidentified suspect opened fire on them, injuring two officers. One officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while the other is in critical but stable condition. Meade and the suspect quickly fled the scene in a gray four-door sedan, potentially a Honda Civic, according to information provided by the police.

Boise police responded to reports of an active shooter at the hospital, leading to a modified lockdown of the facility. In the chaos, one responding officer discharged their weapon at an armed individual at the hospital entrance, who was later identified as a corrections officer from the Idaho Department of Corrections. Fortunately, the officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities are describing the incident as a brazen and violent attack, apparently orchestrated to enable Meade's escape. Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar urged the public to report any interactions with the two suspects and avoid personal confrontations, emphasizing their armed and dangerous nature.

Skylar Meade, a 31-year-old white male, with distinctive face tattoos of the numbers 1 and 11, is a known gang member and had been serving a 20-year prison sentence since 2017. Meade's initial charges included firing at law enforcement during a high-speed chase, aggravated assault, methamphetamine possession, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a shank in jail.

According to Josh Tewalt, the Director at the Idaho Department of Corrections, Meade had engaged in injurious behavior while in a maximum-security facility on Tuesday night. This necessitated his transfer to the hospital, where he arrived shortly before 10 p.m. local time.

Tewalt asserted that the incident appeared to be a planned attack, and while precautions were taken, the corrections department has initiated an investigation to ascertain the details surrounding the escape and shootings. Meade was reportedly in administrative segregation, the highest custody level at the Idaho Department of Corrections.

As the manhunt continues for Skylar Meade and the unidentified suspect, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and contact 911 immediately with any information. The safety of the community is paramount as law enforcement intensifies efforts to locate and apprehend the dangerous individuals at large.