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NORTH LOGAN — A man who allegedly pulled out two guns inside a Cache Valley Hospital was shot by law enforcement officers Friday morning.
Jason James Burr, 34, of North Logan, was taken by medical helicopter to a Salt Lake hospital in critical but stable condition, said North Park Police Chief Kim Hawkes.
The incident began about 8:30 a.m. when Burr walked into the waiting area of the hospital's emergency room, 2380 N. 400 East. Hawkes said Burr "made demands" and produced two handguns. Hawkes declined to disclose Friday what demands or what statements Burr made until more information could be collected.
But one family member, a grandfather-in-law, said Burr was on pain medications because of severe back pain and may have been upset because he was denied treatment at the hospital.
Hospital security confronted Burr and tried to talk to him, Hawkes said.
Two officers from Adult Probation and Parole's northern region were already at the hospital with a parolee for an unrelated reason when they were summoned by hospital security to help.
Hawkes said a parole officer had confronted Burr, who lifted his weapons "in his direction." That's when four shots were fired, three of them striking Burr. Police do not believe that Burr fired his weapons but noted that was still part of the investigation.
The officers have been placed on standard paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.
The hospital waiting room at the time of the incident was empty except for Burr. "So we were very fortunate in that respect," the chief said.
The incident did not extend past the emergency room.
The hospital and nearby Greenville Elementary School, 2450 N. 400 East, were placed on lockdown. By 9:40 a.m., the lockdown on the elementary school was lifted. By 10 a.m., the lockdown on all areas of the hospital except the emergency room had been lifted.
Detectives contacted Burr's wife as part of their investigation to figure out his motive, Hawkes said.
Burr's first wife, Becky, said she was shocked when she heard the news. She said during the times she's talked to her ex-husband recently, there were never any signs that something like this was coming.
"He never had a problem like this before," she told the Deseret News.
In 2010, Burr pleaded guilty to two amended charges of falsely obtaining a prescription. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, put on three years probation and ordered to undergo drug treatment, according to Utah court records. In 2011, the Bear River Health Department reported to the court that Burr was attending his treatment regularly and recommended more treatment.
In 2001, Burr pleaded guilty to intoxication and a disorderly conduct charge was dismissed, according to court records.
Contributing: Whitney Evans and Mike Anderson
