OREM, Utah, Oct. 14, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials have identified a 17-year-old who died after an officer-involved shooting in Orem Friday.
The deceased is Jacob E. Albrethsen, a student at Orem High School, Orem Police Department said in a news release on Facebook. Officials added the family of Albrethsen agreed to release his name.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers and their families as well as Jacob’s family,” the news release said. “This is a tragedy any way you look at it. There is still a lot of work to do and we really appreciate your support and patience.”
Alpine School District will have counselors available Monday for students that may need them, the news release added.
According to police dispatchers, the shooting took place Friday about 3 p.m. at a home located at 81 N. Paradise Drive near North 600 East.
Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez said two officers were sent to the residence after 911 operators received a call of a family dispute. The officers entered the home and were confronted by Albrethsen, who was allegedly brandishing a knife.
Martinez said one of the officers deployed a Taser on the suspect, but it failed to stop him. Both officers then opened fire, critically wounding Albrethsen, who was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died a short while later.
Martinez said both officers were being questioned by investigators with the Utah County District Attorney’s Office and that it was too early to fully know what led to the deadly shooting.
Gephardt Daily is following the story and will provide an update as more information is made available.
What a surprise. 2 police officers couldn’t de-escalate a confrontation with a 17 year old without killing him. Taser? Pepper spray? Baton? How about just backing up? “Do as you’re told or we will shoot you till you’re dead” Cowards.
Very difficult and sad situation. No judgments can be made until the full report and body cam video is released. My heart goes out to the boys family and the officers as well as the students at Orem High School.
It’s “too early to know what happened”, eh? Let me help you out:
Someone called the police.
Police don’t know how to disarm a person with a knife. They don’t know how to assess a situation. They don’t know how to deescalate. They know how to empty a magazine when they “feel their life is in danger”, which results in about 1000 deaths in America per year. Teenager? Unload everything on center mass. Refused to follow my instructions to drop the knife? How dare he! Unload everything on center mass. No one else inside the house and he’s only a danger to himself? Not in my town! Unload everything on center mass. Would he probably drop the knife with a shot to the leg? Let’s not risk it: Unload everything on center mass.
Don’t hold your breath on Utah County DA to do anything. Remember Saratoga? They had decided the outcome when they murdered a teen before the investigation even began. The DA was upset they even HAD to investigate it.