SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 17, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Unified Police officer Doug Barney died Sunday in the line of duty after being shot by an armed man who police believe walked away from a 9:51 a.m. traffic accident in Holladay.
“That individual fired what appeared to be a single round at officer Barney, striking him in the head,” said James Winder, Salt Lake County Sheriff, speaking at a news conference.
Winder’s voice cracked with emotion on the last word, and he paused to compose himself.
“Officer Barney died at 13:12 hours (1:12 p.m.) of his injuries,” Winder said, again choking on his words. “He was an 18-year veteran officer.”
Seriously injured along with Barney was UPD officer Jon Richey, who police say was shot by the same suspect, in the lower extremities and torso, with the latter requiring surgery at Intermountain Medical Center, where both officers had been taken.
“Officer Richey appears to be in improving condition with three gunshot wounds,” Winder said.
“The suspect has been identified as Mr. Cory Lee Henderson, who died at the scene of his injuries.”
Winder said Henderson was a criminal, wanted on both local and federal charges.
“His record indicates a propensity for possession of weapons,” Winder said.
Since Henderson’s death was the result of an officer-involved shooting, the case will be investigated by another agency, the Salt Lake City Police Department, as required by police protocol.
The extensive air and ground search for a blonde woman also believed to have been in the BMW has been scaled back, Winder said.
“We believe the holding of the containment is less critical at this moment,” he said. “We believe we have leads on the female, and we will utilize those to locate her.”
Salt Lake Police Chief Mike Brown, who also spoke at the 3:30 p.m. Sunday news conference in Salt Lake City, offered words to the officer’s families.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to them,” he sad. “It doesn’t matter what patch you wear or the name on the badge. We all lost great officers today.”
Speaking earlier in the afternoon, UPD Lt. Lex Bell shared similar sentiments.
“It’s a dangerous job, and this is an obvious reminder of that,” Bell said. “Two officers were shot in what started out as a traffic accident. It’s obviously an emotional time right now, but we are trying to get through that as an agency, an organization and a brotherhood.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies and the district attorney’s office will be investigating the case, Brown said. The public can share information by calling 801-799-3000.
