Ada County deputies justified in the fatal shooting of Jared Decker, after stabbing a deputy

Valley County Prosecutor Brian Naugle has found three Ada County Sheriff's Office deputies were justified in the shooting of Jared Decker on April 10, 2023.

“Decker’s actions presented a real and immediate risk of death or serious injuries to the deputies he encountered, particularly the deputy Decker stabbed multiple times,” Naugle said in a letter issued last week. “The use of force by the deputies in this case was justifiable.”

The shooting happened after Decker pulled a knife and stabbed Deputy Todd Nelson on Interstate 84 near Eisenman Road.

Nelson and three other deputies, Ryan Carlson, Anthony Del Toro and Dustin Lauritzon, responded to a report of a man walking down the freeway. When confronted by deputies, Decker was combative and stabbed Nelson. Decker was shot by deputies and later died.

“This is not a close case,” Naugle said. “The deputies gave mister Decker ample time to comply, offered him help, and made every reasonable effort to resolve the situation peacefully.”

Naugle's review, and an internal investigation by the Critical Incident Task Force (CITF), found all four deputies did not violate any policies.

CITF reviews also found the deputies use of lethal force was necessary.

Deputy Nelson is still recovering from his injuries.