LAYTON, Utah, May 5, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A 44-year-old Layton man was shot by police overnight after he spent hours firing a gun inside and outside of his home, officers say.
Officers were first called to a home, near 1950 N. Avalon, at about 11:30 p.m., by a female family member who said the man “had contacted her by phone and was intoxicated and threatened to commit suicide,” said a news release from the Layton Police Department.
“The caller reported to dispatch that the man had guns in the home.”
Police arrived at the scene and made phone contact with the man, whose name has not been released.
“Officers confirmed that the man did sound intoxicated, was threatening suicide, and stated that he wanted officers to shoot him,” the LPD statement says.
Police used reverse 911 calls to notify nearby residents of the ongoing incident, telling them to shelter inside their homes.
“Over the next nearly three hours, crisis negotiators periodically talked to the man on the phone, trying to peacefully resolve the situation,” the police statement says. “The man was upset about domestic issues from earlier in the day, and repeatedly stated that he wanted officers to shoot him.”
Police say the situation escalated when the man began firing guns inside his residence, then came outside and fired rounds there as well. He continued to fire inside and outside for multiple hours, using a handgun and a rifle, the police statement said.
“At 2:26 a.m., the man was again outside in the front yard firing rounds off when his actions prompted a Layton officer to shoot him,” the statement says. “He was taken into custody, transported to David Hospital, and flown by helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Medical personnel report the suspect is expected to survive.”
No officers or neighbors were injured, the statement said. The officer who fired the shot has been placed on leave and the Davis County Critical Incident team is conducting an investigation, in keeping with protocol.
