dbryce@journalnet.com

BLACKFOOT - The only shot fired during a day-long standoff Monday apparently went unheard by law enforcement officials at the scene.

After more than six hours, tear gas canisters were fired into a house on Truchot Road and tactical teams made entry. Sheldon Buckskin was found dead inside.

Autopsy reports confirmed that his death resulted from a self-inflicted wound made by a .300 Weatherby rifle.

Bingham County Sheriff Dave Johnson said during a Friday press conference that although it was the only shot fired during the standoff, officers at the scene did not hear it.

Johnson said the standoff, which involved several law enforcement agencies, was a tactical success.

While the multi-agency standoff resulted in Buckskin taking his own life, Johnson said law enforcement teams from local counties, cities and federal agencies acted appropriately to keep the family safe and establish communication with Buckskin.

The confrontation started when personnel with Fort Hall police and the U.S. Marshals Office attempted to serve a federal warrant charging Buckskin with violation of a pretrial release, said Patrick McDonald with the U.S. Marshals Office.

Buckskin warned authorities that he was armed, returned to his house and refused to come out, McDonald said.

Bingham County was called to assist at about 7:30 a.m., and teams from Fort Hall, Pocatello, Bannock County, the Idaho State Police, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Office were called in later.

Buckskin was awaiting trial in federal court charged with sexual abuse of a minor.

Officials said earlier this week that federal authorities planned to arrest Buckskin at his home on Truchot Road for establishing contact with the 12-year-old victim within the preceding 10 days.

McDonald said Buckskin had a prior conviction for sexual abuse of a minor in Utah and failed to register as a sex offender in Idaho.

Johnson said three children reside at the home on Truchot Road, and law enforcement officers met with them at the school to confirm that Buckskin was in the house alone.

A throw phone was tossed into the house to set up a line of communication with Buckskin. A close friend, as well as family members, attempted to contact him, but Buckskin refused to answer the phone. He did warn law enforcement officials to "back off" through a window at the rural home.

Fort Hall Police Chief Reggie Thorpe said state and county warrants are processed and served through the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Court. However, federal warrants are served by the U.S. Marshals office assisted by his department.

Thorpe said Fort Hall is working to development its own tactical response team.

"I see law enforcement coming together just like the local fire departments have done," Thorpe. "It's more a unified command concept. I think that's part of the Homeland Security objective, too."