Sheriff's department: Attempted traffic stop turns into suicide
<p>Firefighters prepare to leave the scene of a suicide Wednesday on the 6700 block of Valley Street in Dalton Gardens. A Kootenai County Sheriff deputy attempted to pull over Robert J. Kilborn for having a loud muffler when he pulled into a friend's driveway and shot himself.</p>
DALTON GARDENS - A 48-year-old Hayden man fatally shot himself in the face Wednesday afternoon after police attempted to make a traffic stop for a loud exhaust system.
A Kootenai County sheriff's deputy signaled Robert J. Kilborn, who was driving a red Chevrolet Blazer, to stop near the intersection of Government Way and Hanley Avenue for the equipment problem about 1:45 p.m.
Kilborn refused to stop. Instead, he continued driving about 20 miles per hour east on Hanley and south on Valley Street, stopping at a home at 6167 N. Valley St., said Maj. Ben Wolfinger, of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department.
The deputy approached the vehicle and saw Kilborn handling a shot gun. The deputy backed away from the Blazer after spotting the weapon, at which point Kilborn turned the gun on himself, Wolfinger said.
Kilborn didn't say anything to the deputy before pulling the trigger, Wolfinger said. Only one shot was fired.
Kilborn was taken by ambulance to Kootenai Medical Center, where he died about 3 p.m., he said.
Kilborn apparently had a friend who lived at the Valley Street residence, he said.
Local checks of criminal history revealed Kilborn had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a DUI charge. He also had a suspended driver's license.
According to department policy, the Idaho State Police will be the primary agency handling the investigation, Wolfinger said.