Suspect started gunbattle

SANDPOINT - The man wounded in a shootout with law enforcement in Post Falls last month was heavily armed and attempted to draw first blood, Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said in a press conference Wednesday.

Wheeler said Coeur d'Alene Police attempted to stop Marcus Anthony Rael on Sherman Avenue because he was suspected of driving under the influence on June 22.

Rael refused to stop, touching off a westbound pursuit on Interstate 90. The pursuit ended in Post Falls, when Rael crashed his Nissan Titan pickup truck near a police roadblock.

"Rael began shooting at officers while pulling off the interstate. After the truck he was driving came to a stop, Rael continued to fire at officers," Wheeler said.

In the ensuing gunbattle, six Coeur d'Alene Police officers, three Post Falls Police officers, two Kootenai County Sheriff's Office deputies and an Idaho State Police trooper exchanged gunfire with Rael, a 24-year-old from Glendale, Ariz.

Rael took up a position between his pickup truck and a Jersey barrier on the interstate. The truck had a steel lift gate on the back and tool boxes in the pickup bed.

"He was in a fortified position between the barrier and the truck, which was to his advantage," Wheeler said.

Wheeler added that officers tried to convince Rael to give up even after he opened fire.

"There was an effort to de-escalate the situation and get him to give up," Wheeler said.

Rael was wounded during the fusillade, although Wheeler declined say how many times Rael was struck by gunfire or how many shots were fired. Wheeler said officers rendered emergency aid at the scene, which likely saved Rael's life.

Wheeler said Rael used at least two assault weapons during the gun battle - an AK-47 with a high-capacity drum magazine and a FN Herstal P90, which had a standard 50-round magazine. Both are legal semiautomatic weapons.

Wheeler referred to the P90 as a "cop-killer."

"It holds the kind of bullets that will penetrate (bulletproof) vests," said Wheeler.

Wheeler said it's unclear when the investigation will be complete or what additional charges Rael could be facing.

Rael is currently charged with eluding law enforcement at the felony level. After receiving treatment at Kootenai Health, he was transferred to the Kootenai County jail and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

A preliminary hearing in his case is set for July 24.

Wheeler praised the law officers who were involved in the shooting for their courage, restraint and professionalism.

"An example of that professionalism was when officers provided life-saving measures to the suspect, who, minutes earlier was trying to kill them," he said.