SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 20, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — An armed suspect who reportedly exchanged gunfire with Salt Lake City police after they responded on a call of a suicidal person has been found deceased in the apartment officers targeted.
“At 11:30 this morning our officers received the call on the suicidal person in the area of 1660 West 900 North, behind me,” Sgt. Keith Horrocks told reporters at an afternoon news conference.
“Our officers responded and made contact with that person. At some point in that contact that person fired off several rounds at our officers. They returned fire, and also had to take hard cover in the area to protect themselves. That has turned into a barricaded situation.”
Because officers fired their guns, the incident will be investigated by an outside team of law enforcement investigators, in keeping with Officer-Involved Critical Incident Protocol.
“I want to point out that we do have social workers and negotiators on scene to try to speak with a suspect, and to bring about a peaceful surrender in this case,” Horrocks said in the afternoon statement. “We also have our SWAT team on scene, and I point that out because I wanted to point out that they have several tools at their disposal, that are less lethal that can also help in this situation.”
In a second statement to reporters shortly before 6 p.m. Horrocks revealed that the suspect was found dead. It is unknown whether the suspect fired the fatal shot, or was shot by police, he said, adding that answer would be sought as part of the investigation by the outside agency.
Horrocks did confirm that no family members of the victim were in the residence at the time of the incident. He also said body camera footage would be carefully reviewed by the investigating agency.
The name of the victim has not yet been revealed.
Horrocks said the roadway closed during the incident, Redwood Road between 700 North and 1000 North, would remain closed to traffic for at least the next few hours.
