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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who allegedly was offering to shovel walks for money before hitting a Salt Lake City police officer with the shovel was shot and killed by the officer Thursday in Salt Lake City's Avenues area, according to police.
The incident happened just before 4 p.m. near 2nd Avenue and I Street.
Salt Lake Police Sgt. Robin Heiden said James Dudley Barker, 42, of Salt Lake City, was going door-to-door offering to shovel walkways for residents, and one resident called police. When the officer approached Barker, he immediately hit him with a shovel, Heiden said.
"Immediately there was an altercation between the two. The officer was attacked with the shovel and returned fire and killed (Barker)," Heiden said.
The confrontation played out "within seconds," she said.
At least two people in the neighborhood saw Barker hit the officer with the shovel, Heiden said. Other residents who were in their homes at the time reported hearing multiple shots "like fireworks."
The officer had responded to a resident's call about Barker, who the caller said was suspicious and matched the description of someone who had reportedly been looking into parked cars in the area recently.
The name of the officer was not immediately released. The officer has been with the Salt Lake City Police Department for just over a year but may have previous experience at other departments, Heiden said. He fractured multiple bones during the incident Thursday.
The officer was wearing a body camera and it was activated, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Roads surrounding the scene were closed as officers investigated Thursday. Police were expected to remain in the area for several hours.
Contributing: Andrew Adams
