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WEST VALLEY CITY — A man who allegedly threatened an officer and was shot by police has been charged with attempted murder.
Oston Shiloh Fairbourn, 24, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and assaulting an officer, a second-degree felony, in the Dec. 15 incident.
Fairbourn was also charged with interfering with an officer and carrying a concealed weapon, both class B misdemeanors, as well as failure of a pedestrian to yield and disorderly conduct, both class C misdemeanors.
Officers were reportedly looking for Fairbourn after receiving calls he was "acting strange and threatening multiple people" before leaving the area without his wallet and wearing only shorts and shoes, according charging documents.
An officer saw Fairbourn walk out into traffic near 3500 South and 3200 West, activated the lights on his patrol vehicle and approached him, charges state. Fairbourn immediately pulled out a large knife and threatened the officer, who drew his service weapon.
When Fairbourn advanced and raised the knife, ignoring instructions to put down the weapon, the officer fired, according to the charges. Fairbourn was shot three times.
An officer arriving to provide backup approached Fairbourn and saw the knife lying on the ground next to him. When the officer told Fairbourn not to touch the knife, he rolled on top of it and tucked his arms under his body, charges state. He continued to resist as five officers assisted and Fairbourn had to be strapped to the gurney when he was taken into an ambulance.
A witness said Fairbourn and the officer were about 3 feet to 5 feet apart when Fairbourn "grab(ed) his stomach and fell to the ground."
One day after the shooting, West Valley City Police Chief Lee Russo said he believed the shooting would be ruled justified. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident.
