SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 29, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake City Police Department released dramatic audio Monday of a burst of gunfire captured on officers’ body cameras as they responded to reports of a fight in downtown Salt Lake City in the early morning hours of Dec. 13.
According to an SLCPD press release, officers had been called to 149 W. Pierpont Ave. about 2:57 a.m. after a caller contacted SLC 911 saying there was a fight and “everyone had guns.”
Officers arrived on scene around 3 a.m. and searched the area looking for witnesses or other bystanders, but reported “no active fighting.”
A few minutes later, two other patrolmen were making their way toward the site of the reported fight about 3:11 a.m. when the sound of gunfire filled the air.
VIDEO: Salt Lake City Police Department
Officers saw a white sedan speeding away from the vicinity of the Perry Hotel parking lot and said a rear passenger fired toward police.
One officer returned fire, discharging at least one round, the SLCPD news release said.
There were no reports of injuries.
“Preliminary information indicates the involved officer had not been dispatched to the call and their body-worn camera had not yet been activated when shots were fired. SLCPD reviews all uses of force comprehensively, including body-worn camera activation compliance.
“The department placed the involved officer on administrative leave, consistent with policy.”
SLCPD invoked the officer-involved critical incident protocol, and Team 3, led by the West Valley City Police Department, was called in to conduct an independent investigation.
“We will also conduct an internal investigation, separate from the criminal process,” SLCPD said.
Photo: Gephardt Daily / Patrick Benedict
