Update: SLCPD officer wounded by apparent ‘friendly fire’ in suspect’s fatal shooting, man may have brandished AirSoft pistol

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 15, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — An officer-involved shooting Monday afternoon is under investigation after the subject of a call about a “psychiatric problem” was fatally shot and a police officer was wounded, apparently by friendly fire.

The incident unfolded when officers responded to a 911 call about 2 p.m., reporting a “psychiatric problem” at the Sunrise Metro Apartments, in the area of 580 S. 500 West.

In a late Monday night news conference, Salt Lake City Police Lt. Brandon Shearer, characterized the incident as a “very dynamic situation” in which officers had to make split-second decisions.

Shearer said the officer who fired the fatal shot is “a patrol officer and, I believe, is certified as a crisis intervention officer.” Crisis intervention officers are trained specifically to respond to calls in which there may be a mental health crisis.

Shearer would not release the dead man’s identity pending notification of family members, but confirmed that “the suspect” was male and was the subject of the original police call.

Shearer said when officers arrived, the suspect presented a weapon and the officers responded to his actions.

When asked if the weapon was an AirSoft gun, as is being reported by KUTV2, Shearer replied that he didn’t know what kind of gun it was and said he couldn’t provide any further details.

According to KUTV2, Salt Lake City Housing Authority Deputy Director Britnee Dabb described a video recorded at the housing complex showing three officers and a case worker at the resident’s front door.

Dabb told KUTV when the resident opened the door he was holding an AirSoft pistol. At that point, Dabb said an officer quickly drew his weapon and began firing.

Shearer said he could not comment on the facts of the investigation, but that body-cam video of the incident will be released Tuesday.

Shearer did confirm the Salt Lake City police officer who was wounded was hit by one bullet, adding that officials are still looking into exactly how it happened.

The officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of his wound and was released later Monday afternoon.

Gephardt Daily is following this story and will provide updates as more information is released.

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