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SALT LAKE CITY — Wellington police released some new details Wednesday about a deadly shooting involving an officer and a man police described as “suicidal.”
About 7 p.m. Tuesday, a reserve Wellington officer responded to the area of 900 E. Railroad Ave. on a report of a suicidal individual. There, he encountered Bobby Ray Duckworth, 26, of Wellington, said Wellington Police Chief Rory Bradley. At some point, Duckworth “received fatal injuries from the altercation,” the chief said.
Authorities were not saying Wednesday whether it was the officer’s shot that killed Duckworth, stating that was part of the ongoing investigation.
“This is an unfortunate situation for all involved,” Bradley said, a sentiment echoed by Carbon County Sheriff Jeff Wood and Carbon County Attorney Jeremy Humes.
A multiagency team lead by the sheriff’s office will investigate the officer-involved shooting. Wood said the officer’s body camera was recording at the time, and that video would be reviewed Wednesday.
The officer is on standard paid administrative leave. Bradley is the only full-time officer in Wellington. The chief said he has several reserve officers. The officer involved in the shooting is also a full-time officer with another agency, he said while declining to name that agency. Bradley said the officer being placed on leave would not affect the policing of Wellington.
Duckworth was charged in July in Wellington Justice Court with assault, a class B misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, an infraction. According to court records, he was scheduled to be arraigned on those charges on Tuesday at 5 p.m., approximately two hours before his fatal confrontation with police.
Court records state that Duckworth showed up to court and entered not guilty pleas to both charges.
The place where he had the altercation with the officer is about one mile from the Wellington Justice Courthouse.
Crisis Hotlines
- Utah County Crisis Line: 801-691-5433
- Salt Lake County/UNI Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373-7393
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- Utah Chapter-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsputah.com
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
