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MAGNA — What began as an argument between two cousins turned into a SWAT standoff overnight in Magna. The suspect eventually surrendered to a police robot.
The incident began around 11:30 p.m. at the apartment complex near 8000 West and 3400 South. People at the complex heard the cousins arguing. Witness Scott Robbins said, "He was yelling, ‘Hey, put it down,' stuff like that."
Police say eventually Aaron Beveridge, 25, fired one shot from a shotgun at his cousin, who is his roommate. The blast from that cut his face. Police were called and the cousin handed over the shotgun at the door. But when officers tried to make contact with Beveridge, he refused to come out.
"They called him like five to 10 times but there was no response from inside," Robbins said.
Police had reason to believe that Beveridge was in possession of multiple weapons in the apartment, so they called out SWAT. People near Beveridge's apartment were evacuated to the complex's clubhouse.
"(Police) got here quick. There were a lot of them. You felt pretty safe," Robbins said.
After three hours of trying to make contact with Beveridge, SWAT sent in a robot to determine his location. Upon seeing the robot, Beveridge surrendered. He was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. He faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly firing the shotgun at his cousin's head.
Police believe alcohol played a factor in the incident.
"(The fight) started over some drinking issues, so it's alcohol-related at this time," Hughes said.
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