WALLACE, Idaho — A woman shot during Friday’s attack at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office is sharing her story of survival and recovery as investigators work to determine why a 77-year-old man opened fire in the heart of Wallace.
Elizia Frank contacted the 4 News Now newsroom on Monday to correct initial reports about the shooting and share details of her terrifying experience. Frank was walking toward the sheriff’s office when she said John Drake of Mullan shot her in the leg with a shotgun.
“I was thinking I was dead. I was thinking I’d never see my family again and see my dogs again, my pit bulls,” Frank said.
The shotgun blast left Frank’s leg covered with pellet holes. She received 50 staples at the hospital and now struggles with walking as she recovers from her injuries.
Frank corrected earlier reports from the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office that suggested she was in a truck when shot. We’ve asked SCSO for clarification. She said she was walking across the street when Drake fired at her. After being shot, she took cover in a truck while Drake continued firing.
“I didn’t know him. I never saw the guy before,” Frank said.
The physical wounds are healing, but the psychological trauma lingers. Frank described the incident as the scariest thing that has ever happened to her.
“Now, every time I hear a loud noise, I always get kind of nervous,” she said.
Drake shot two women on Friday before barricading himself inside the sheriff’s office lobby, says SCSO. The standoff sparked a shootout with law enforcement that lasted nearly two hours before law enforcement killed Drake.
Captain Seth Green of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that multiple officers fired their weapons during the incident. Law enforcement found Drake with multiple guns after killing him, though specific details about the weapons remain undisclosed.
The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators have not released information about Drake’s motive or background.
“I’m not going to speculate as to motives. The investigation is ongoing. It’s a multi-agency investigation,” Green said on Saturday.
The sheriff’s office sustained damage during the incident and will remain closed while crews complete cleanup work. The department plans to update the public through its Facebook page about when services will resume.
Questions about Drake’s history and why he targeted the sheriff’s office remain unanswered. Shoshone Sheriff Eddy has not responded to requests for additional information about the investigation at the time of publication.
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