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Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting in Coeur d'Alene identified

Al Samno was reportedly armed with a knife. Officers tried less lethal force, including a Taser and beanbags, before shooting and killing Samno, Wilhelm said.

Coeur d'Alene police have identified the suspect who died in an officer-involved shooting in Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday morning.

The suspect has been identified as Fares J. Al Samno, 29. Officials said next of kin have been notified.

Online court records show a handful of criminal cases against Al-Samno over the years some dating back to when he was a teenager. 

His most recent and serious case was in 2011 when he was charged with theft and violating probation. He was also charged with drug possession as a juvenile in 2005 and subsequent probation violations.

North Idaho College confirms that he was a former student and graduated from NIC in 2013 with an associate degree. A 2002 posting from a church indicates that Al-Samno's family lived in Hayden.

Coeur d'Alene police responded to the report of a disorderly man acting erratically at about 9:50 a.m., according to officer Jay Wilhelm with the Coeur d'Alene police department. 

Al Samno was reportedly armed with a knife. Officers tried less lethal force, including a Taser and beanbags, before shooting and killing Al Samno, Wilhelm said.

Officers from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the Coeur d'Alene Police Department were involved in the shooting. Wilhelm did not specify how many officers were involved. A neighbor told KREM, based on all the gunshots he heard, it sounded like more than one officer fired. They said they heard anywhere from 10 to 15 gunshots. 

The Post Falls Police Department is leading the shooting investigation. 

Police say this was an isolated incident and there is no longer a threat to the public. 

The shooting happened at North Pinegrove Drive and West Canfield Avenue in Coeur d'Alene, in an area that is a mix of residences and small businesses, near US-95 and the Silver Lake Mall. It is less than a mile from Lake City High School.

People should avoid the area during the investigation.   

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