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Officers, suspect involved in Sandpoint shooting identified

Officials said within seconds of officers arriving on scene, the suspect, Brandon Kuhlman, 28, began firing at them.

SANDPOINT, Idaho – Sandpoint Police have identified the officers and suspect involved in a shooting early Monday.

Officers Michael Hutter and Eric Clark were shot twice while responding to an incident at a home in Ridley Village.

Officials said Hutter was shot in the leg and chest. He was treated at Bonner General Hospital and was later released. Sandpoint police leaders said he is a 30-year law enforcement veteran. He was employed by Sandpoint PD from 1990 to 1997. Then, he joined the Ponderay Police Department in 1997 and was the Ponderay Chief of Police until he retired in 2016. He was later rehired by Sandpoint Police.

Authorities said Clark was shot in the neck and left hand. Sandpoint Police leaders said he was transported to Kootenai Medical Center because of the severity of his injuries. Officials said he has undergone two surgeries and is in recovery. He was hired by the Sandpoint Police in 2015.

It has not even been a week since law enforcement from different agencies were at Kootenai Health in support of a Coeur d'Alene police officer wounded in the line of duty. Deputies and police officers from surrounding counties have been coming in and out of Kootenai Health, lending their support and helping out with security. Coeur d'Alene Police said the law enforcement community is close and they are willing to do anything they can to support their fellow officers during a traumatic experience as this.

"Incidents like this really help us understand how big of a community we do have and it's a great big family and it doesn't end with the Coeur d'Alene Police Department or the just the law enforcement personnel that are in the city of Coeur d'Alene. It hits home with us we were there last week," CDa Police Spokesman Jared Reneau said.

Officials said within seconds of officers arriving on scene, the suspect, Brandon Kuhlman, 28, began firing at them. Police said the officers sought cover and Kuhlman engaged the officers a second time. Officials said the officers returned fire but it is unclear whether the officers hit the suspect. Investigating officers found Kuhlman dead in the home

The North Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is leading the investigation. And autopsy will be performed on Tuesday.

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