SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, Dec. 29, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has determined that an officer-involved shooting that occurred after a West Jordan bank robbery in November was legally justified.
The DA’s Office made the determination Thursday after conducting an Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) review of the Nov. 2 shooting that led to the death of Jesse Jay Taylor.
Taylor, 40, was given CPR by emergency personnel at the scene before being rushed to an area hospital where he died later that day.
A chase began after police say Taylor robbed the Mountain America Credit Union, at 6761 S. Redwood Road, then fled in a pickup truck.
The District Attorney’s Office released a statement:
“Several WJPD Officers encountered Jesse Jay Taylor, a man who had reportedly just robbed a credit union at gun point. Police officers chased Mr. Taylor at high speeds into and through a residential neighborhood where Mr. Taylor crashed his vehicle.
“Mr. Taylor fled the crash scene and ran. Several WJPD officers saw Mr. Taylor running through the neighborhood with a gun. Many officers ordered Mr. Taylor to stop and drop the gun, repeatedly shouting commands. Mr. Taylor did not stop or drop the gun, but instead ran with his gun towards several police officers.”
The statement goes on to say that the officer that shot Taylor later recounted his concerns about Taylor and his fear for his and others’ safety. The officer fired his weapon, hitting Taylor who went down to the ground. Several police officers provided lifesaving medical care, but Taylor died from a gunshot wound.
The Salt Lake County DA’s Office is required by Utah State law, and operates pursuant to an agreement with participating law enforcement agencies and consistent with established protocols and applicable law, to perform joint investigations and independent reviews of officer involved critical incidents including police officers’ use of deadly (including potentially deadly) force used in the scope of police officers’ official duties.
