DRAPER, Utah, March 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A male passenger who was shot and critically injured by an officer of the Riverton Police Department Tuesday afternoon during a traffic stop has died.
Riverton police released a statement Wednesday morning.
“During a traffic stop, a male individual engaged in an altercation involving the suspect with a firearm and officers, which resulted in the discharge of an officer’s duty weapon,” the news release reads.
“The individual received immediate medical attention and was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition and has since succumbed to his injuries. We will wait to release the individual’s name until the next of kin has been notified.
One Riverton Police officer has been placed on administrated leave, per Officer-Involved Critical Incident (OICI) protocol. The driver of the vehicle remains in police custody. There are no additional updates available at this time.
In accordance with standard procedures, OICI Protocol Team 2 has been assigned to lead the investigation.
A statement released Monday by the Utah Department of Public Safety, which was not involved in the incident, says the OICI happened at about 4:30 p.m. during the stop of a southbound vehicle on Interstate 15 near the Bangerter Highway Exchange.
Southbound I-15 was initially closed to all traffic near mile marker 289, in Draper. It remained closed into the night.
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Jadyn I.
