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OGDEN — Body camera footage released by Ogden police on Monday shows a suicidal 18-year-old man threatening officers with an airsoft gun and a butcher's knife before being shot on Oct. 27.
The man's injuries were not life-threatening.
The 911 call released by Weber County Attorney's office indicates that a caseworker with the Utah Department of Human Services reported that the 18-year-old was threatening to end his life.
Initial reports indicated that the caseworker was on scene when the man threatened to kill himself, but the audio from the call reveals that his girlfriend had texted his mother that he was suicidal. The girlfriend told the man's mother that he had told her that he planned to return home and shoot himself with a shotgun. The mother then called the social worker, who then called dispatchers.
Officers responded to a home in the 800 block of 5th Street in Ogden. According to officials, due to the violent nature of the call, a perimeter was set around the home. As officers made contact with residents inside the home, the man exited the home through a basement door making contact with an officer.
The officer yelled out "hey" to warn the man who advanced with a butcher's knife and what appeared to be a handgun, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.
The gun was revealed to be an airsoft gun.
Ogden Police Chief Randy Watt reported that the 18-year-old had injuries that were not life-threatening and was in good condition on Oct. 27.
A statement from the Weber County Attorney's Ofice on Monday said that the investigation is still ongoing and the office is not currently drawing any conclusions about whether officers acted consistently with their own policy or the law until all the facts are known, and the investigation is complete.
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Crisis Hotlines
- Salt Lake County/UNI Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- National Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741-741
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
- Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373-7393
- University Of Utah Crisis Interventional Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
Online Resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- Utah Chapter-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsp.org/chapter/utah
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
