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SALT LAKE CITY — The actions of a Salt Lake police officer who shot and killed a man who had also shot him during a traffic stop in March have been deemed to be legally justified.
In a letter to Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank released Tuesday, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill determined that Moelealaolao Tafisi fired at Christopher Leo Knight, 34, and killed the man in defense of himself and his fellow officer Dan Tueller.
"Knight presented an imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury when he fired his weapons at officers Tafisi and Tueller," Gill wrote. "Officer Tafisi saw Knight's weapon pointed at officer Tueller and saw and heard Knight fire in officer Tueller's direction."
Both Tafisi and Tueller were shot by Knight during the March 28 incident. Both officers were expected to recover, but Gill noted that Tafisi had to fire when he did to prevent any further harm or injury.
"Officer Tafisi needed to apprehend Knight instantly and eliminate the threat Knight presented," Gill wrote. "Officer Tafisi reasonably believed that deadly force was necessary to defend himself because Knight unlawfully used deadly force against him and officer Tueller. … As such, we conclude that officer Tafisi's use of deadly force was justified under Utah state law."
2 officers injured; 1 man dead in downtown shooting
Two Salt Lake City police officers were involved in a shooting that took place in downtown Salt Lake on March 28, 2014.Knight was the passenger in a car Tafisi pulled over because of a broken headlight near 300 South and West Temple. When Tafisi stopped the car, he took the name of the driver, Francisco Gonzales, and discovered that the man's license was suspended and there were minor traffic-related warrants out for his arrest. Tafisi questioned the passenger to determine whether he could drive the car home.
Knight apparently said his name was Matt and that his last name was Hofer or Hoffman, according to Gonzales' recollection, Gill wrote.
Tueller then arrived as backup — which police say is protocol for traffic stops during the graveyard shift — and noted that Tafisi was on his computer in his vehicle. When the name returned no information, Tafisi again questioned the passenger and was given a second name that failed to turn up any information, Gill wrote.
In order to arrest Knight, officer Tafisi attempted to take him into custody. Officer Tafisi opened the passenger door and attempted to physically remove Knight from the Jeep. Knight resisted and an altercation ensued.
–Sim Gill in a letter Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank
Tafisi determined he had reason to arrest the man, later determined to be Knight, and asked for Tueller's assistance. But the man refused to exit the vehicle when asked, Gill wrote, instead putting his hand into his sweatshirt pocket.
"In order to arrest Knight, officer Tafisi attempted to take him into custody," the letter states. "Officer Tafisi opened the passenger door and attempted to physically remove Knight from the Jeep. Knight resisted and an altercation ensued."
When the man was pulled from the vehicle, he fell to the ground and a gun fell from his clothing, which he picked up and pointed toward Tueller. Tafisi reported that he drew his weapon as Knight open fired, prompting him to return fire.
"Officer Tafisi said he fired at Knight because he believed he and officer Tueller were in imminent danger of Knight killing them," the letter states.
Tueller was shot in the leg and Tafisi was hit in the shoulder. Knight was killed in the shootout. Evidence at the scene indicated Knight had fired three times and that Tafisi fired five times.
Detective Cody Lougy said Tuesday that both officers are healing and doing well but have not returned to duty.
