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WEST VALLEY CITY — Two teenagers attempted to rob an off-duty officer who was checking his mail last week, prompting a shootout between them, police said Tuesday.
The officer-involved shooting incident occurred Nov. 7 between an officer and two boys, ages 17 and 15.
Just after 7 p.m., a West Valley police officer, whose name has not been released, was checking his mail at the Village at Rivers Edge complex, 1250 W. 3301 South. The officer was not on duty and not in uniform, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.
"As the officer walked back home, he was confronted by two suspects armed with a handgun in what appears to be an attempted aggravated robbery in which the officer feared for his own life. During the course of this robbery, multiple rounds were fired both at the officer and by the officer. The officer was shot once. Both suspects were shot and fled the scene," she said.
About 7:25 p.m., the officer notified emergency dispatchers that he had been shot. Shortly after, a pickup truck carrying the two boys was spotted at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. The older teen suffered a single gunshot wound while the 15-year-old was shot twice, Vainuku said.
The officer has since been released from the hospital. The 17-year-old was treated at the hospital and later booked into juvenile detention for investigation of undisclosed charges. Vainuku said as of Tuesday, the 15-year-old was "still receiving medical treatment."
Detectives do not believe the teens knew that their would-be target was an off-duty officer. The officer, who is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, has been with the West Valley Police Department for three years.
Unified police are conducting an independent review of the shooting.
