Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Former policeman dies of gunshot wound

Gonzalez served 10 years as a Ketchum patrolman


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

A 10-year-veteran of the Ketchum Police Department died early Saturday evening at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Thirty-eight-year-old Eric Gonzalez was rushed to the hospital following the shooting shortly before 4:45 p.m. at his home on Cherry Hill in southeast Hailey.

Blaine County Coroner Russell Mikel said Gonzalez was pronounced dead at 7:25 p.m.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Hailey Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Hailey police Lt. Jeff Gunter said the shooting was reported to authorities by a neighbor, an off-duty Blaine County Sheriff's sergeant who was informed of the incident by the victim's wife. Gonzalez was transported to the hospital in extremely critical condition by a Wood River Fire and Rescue ambulance.

Gonzalez was a patrolman with the Ketchum Police Department from November of 1996 until May 1 of this year, said department spokeswoman Kim Rogers. She declined to discuss why Gonzalez left the department.

"It's a tragic loss of life, and the Ketchum Police Department extends its deepest sympathy to his family," Rogers said.

Gonzales applied for work with the Hailey Police Department and the Bellevue Marshal's Office after his employment in Ketchum ended.

"He was a good guy," said Gunter. "It's a tragic loss and we also extend our condolences to the family."




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.