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SOUTH JORDAN, Utah -- A man armed with a shotgun was killed by police on the Oquirrh Mountain Temple grounds Saturday afternoon.
Lt. Dan Starks with the South Jordan Police Department said police were called just after 12:30 p.m. for a report of a man with a gun.
The temple was closed at the time to observe the Christmas holiday, though several people were on the grounds enjoying the weather and the views from the temple. Officials say the man had a confrontation with at least one person on temple grounds.
When police arrived, they confronted the man and told him to put the weapon down. Instead, he ran.
Starks said when the man did not comply, one officer fired a single shot at the man. He was struck and killed.
"Officers obviously wanted him to stop. They were fearing for their own safety as well as the safety of those individuals that were here on site already," Starks said. "He failed to comply with that so he was shot. Unfortunately, it killed him."
When police located the man's car, they found other guns, ammunition and swords inside.
Investigators are still trying to uncover a motive.
"What a tough day to have this happen for anybody and everybody to have to look back on this day, this Christmas day," Starks said. "Very heart wrenching circumstances both for the officer and for the individual's family as well."
The man's identity has not been released. The officers involved have been placed on routine administrative leave.
Officials with both the police department and the district attorney's office were on scene for hours Saturday gathering evidence as the investigation continues.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
