U. of Idaho says 1 officer knew of gun threat

BOISE, Idaho – University of Idaho officials say at least one police officer knew of alleged gun threats against a graduate student before she was shot and killed by a professor she had been dating.

The school issued a statement Wednesday saying a police officer included on a threat assessment team was made aware of the threats that 22-year-old Katie Benoit reported.

Benoit complained to the university in June that professor Ernesto Bustamante had threatened her with a firearm three separate times during the relationship.

Moscow Police Chief David Duke said Friday he was unaware of gun threats until after Bustamante shot and killed Benoit on Aug. 22 and committed suicide.

On Wednesday, Duke said the officer on the assessment team reported after the shooting that the team had brief talks about gun threats.