Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MAGNA — A reportedly suicidal man who was observed by police cutting himself before charging at an officer with a knife was shot and killed Saturday.
Luis Quintana, 39, of Magna, was shot four times by a Unified police officer just before 7:30 p.m. in the street near 3688 S. Deer Valley Drive (8445 West).
Officers were originally called to the house on a report that Quintana was attempting suicide with a knife. When officers eventually found Quintana in the street, he ignored commands to put the knife down and then charged at them, said Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder.
Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said Quintana already had "signficant" self-inflicted injuries by the time officers found him, but declined to elaborate about where Quintana had cut himself.
Winder said Saturday night that Quintana had a "significant history" of similar emotional incidents with police.
Utah State Court records show Quintana had a long history of violence and substance abuse.
What is evident is he was in the immediate act of trying to harm himself, so we believe he was taking active steps to injure himself when the officer encountered him. The rest would be speculation at this point.
–Jim Winder, Salt Lake County sheriff
In 2012, the staff at the 19th Hole, a bar at 8975 W. 2600 South, tried to evict Quintana for fighting with them and other bar patrons, according to Utah State Court records. When officers arrived, staff members had Quintana in handcuffs and discovered a box-cutter knife in his pocket, the report stated. While being booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, officers discovered Quintana was carrying cocaine, according to court records.
In that case, Quintana eventually took a plea deal, pleading guilty to assault and attempted drug possession and was sentenced to probation.
In 2009, Quintana was convicted twice of misdemeanor DUI, according to court records. In another case in 2009 in Summit County Justice Court he was convicted of disorderly conduct and intoxication.
In 2006 he was convicted of simple assault in a domestic violence-related incident. He also had substance abuse-related convictions in 2003, 2002 and 1997, according to court records. In 1994, Quintana was convicted of felony aggravated assault.
Winder said it was unclear if the man was attempting on Saturday to commit suicide by inciting an altercation with police.
"What is evident is he was in the immediate act of trying to harm himself, so we believe he was taking active steps to injure himself when the officer encountered him," he said. "The rest would be speculation at this point."
Contributing: Morgan Jacobsen
