BREAKING: Break-In and Fire in Meridian Turns Deadly

An elderly woman has passed away after break-in and house fire in Meridian. Ada County Sheriff and Kuna Police deputies have been on the scene since 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.

According to KTVB, dispatch received a call from a home on Amity Road reporting a prowler banging on the door of the home in an attempt to enter it. When police at arrived, that prowler walked out of the home carrying a rifle.  After he failed to comply with orders to put the rifle down, officers fired rounds at the suspect before he went back into the home and barricaded himself inside with three other people.

Minutes later, the entire house was engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived on the scene to attempt to rescue the three residents.  Two residents were able to leave the home, one of which is on their way for treatment at the Salt Lake City Burn Center.  The third resident, an elderly woman, didn't make it out of the home.

At this time, police are say the armed suspect is "unaccounted for."  It's possible that he may have also died in the fire as they didn't see him leave the home.  To be safe, the area around the home has been shut down, allowing officers to continue their search for the suspect. KTVB reporter, Joe Parris, explains that law enforcement cannot search for the suspect's body in the rubble because the home is still too hot to approach.  That search will likely begin after sunrise.

The investigation may impact your travel into the office this morning as Amity Road is closed between Ten Mile and Meridian.  There are also closures on Linder.

This is a BREAKING NEWS story.  For continuing coverage keep up to date with our news partners at KTVB.