TOOELE COUNTY, Utah, Feb. 28, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who was shot and killed after he pointed a firearm at officers who responded to a report he threatened employees at a waste disposal facility in Tooele County has been identified.
The deceased is Barry Michael Zumwalt, 36, from West Valley City, said a news release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy with the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office and a trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol responded to Clean Harbors Environmental Solution in Aragonite shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the news release.
Initial reports indicated a man had threatened employees at the waste incineration facility, located south of Interstate 80 at about milepost 56.
“Two employees at the facility spoke to the suspect outside the entrance and asked him if he needed help,” the news release said. “He told them he did not. A short time later, as other employees arrived, the suspect followed them inside the fenced perimeter. Employees reported that when they approached the suspect and told him he needed to leave he initiated a physical confrontation.
“They reported that the suspect then raised his arms and that is when they saw that the suspect was carrying a gun in a holster.”
When the deputy and the trooper arrived at the Clean Harbors facility they encountered Zumwalt, who was armed with a rifle and a handgun. The suspect refused to cooperate and after he threatened them with a firearm, he was shot and went to the ground.
Other officers responded and once they confirmed that the area was safe they checked the suspect and found that he was dead.
Investigators learned that the deputy and the trooper gave several commands to Zumwalt and they were about 160 feet away when shots were fired at him. Investigators have also learned that Zumwalt has a history of mental health struggles.
At this time investigators know of no connections the suspect had to the facility or any of its employees.
The suspect’s body has been taken to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner in Salt Lake City where an autopsy will be performed.
The deputy and trooper involved in this incident are on paid administrative leave. Because this is an officer involved shooting, detectives with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office will conduct the investigation into this case.
