Rambo trial begins

COEUR d’ALENE — The trial of the teen who lost both legs after being shot by police in 2019 began Monday.

Tyler Rambo, 19, is charged with attempted murder in the second degree and aggravated assault, both felonies. Rambo has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The charges stem from the July 4, 2019, celebration at City Park in Coeur d’Alene, when police said Rambo, who was 18 at the time, waved a gun and fired a round. He is accused of pointing a gun at police before they shot him.

“Tyler Rambo went to City Park that day with a loaded gun and 13 extra bullets,” prosecutor Rebecca Perez said during opening statements Monday afternoon.

She said Rambo intended to shoot a 23-year-old man with whom he had a previous altercation at a party.

Prosecutors said Rambo instigated another altercation with the 23-year-old when they met on July 4 in Coeur d’Alene, while the defense said the 23-year-old and several companions took advantage of an opportunity to “beat the living tar” out of Rambo.

Perez said Rambo fired at the 23-year-old and aimed the gun at another person before running from police.

Defense attorney Rick Baughman told the jury that Rambo fired a shot into the air during the fight, hoping to disperse the group of people who were attacking him.

Rambo did not comply with orders from police to drop the gun, prosecutors said. Baughman said Rambo did not respond to orders right away because he was disoriented from being hit and kicked.

Baughman told the jury that police tased Rambo while his hands were in the air. He said Rambo’s muscles locked up, causing him to involuntarily squeeze the trigger and fire the gun.

“As soon as the gun goes off, all these cops commence to shoot,” Baughman said.

Prosecutors said officers saw Rambo catch himself as he fell after they tased him. Because he was able to break his fall, Perez said, he was in control of his arms and did not fire the gun accidentally.

“(Rambo) kept (the gun) in his hand, paced and turned and then leveled that gun,” Perez told the jury.

Proceedings will continue this morning. The trial is expected to take two weeks.

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