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ST. GEORGE — A man who police say shot himself following the conclusion of a wild chase outside of Zion National Park, has died from his injuries.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday that Shannon Alan Griffin, 55, of Rockville, Washington County, died on Saturday.
Griffin had been hospitalized since Wednesday. On that day, police say Griffin brandished a gun at a man and his daughter in Hurricane. When officers attempted to stop and question Griffin, he resisted and fled in his car.
During the ensuing chase, Griffin shot at least 10 vehicles, according to police.
As Griffin fled on state Route 9 toward Zion National Park, "he was firing gunshots at vehicles as he passed through the cities of Hurricane, LaVerkin and Virgin. Pursuing officers reported that at times during the pursuit, Griffin reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and drove into opposing traffic," according to a statement from the sheriff's office.
Griffin continued driving toward an area where officers from the Springdale-Zion Canyon Police Department had set up tire spikes. At least one of Griffin's tires was spiked and an officer fired at least one round during the confrontation, according to the sheriff's office.
But Griffin continued driving for a short distance, stopped his car in Rockville, got out and exchanged gunfire with two Hurricane officers before running into a residential area, sheriff's officials said.
Police from numerous local and state agencies had just begun a large manhunt when a single gunshot was heard and Griffin was found in a backyard with a head injury "from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," the sheriff's office said.
One officer from Springdale-Zion Canyon Police Department and two officers from Hurricane Police Department have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the officer-involved shooting investigation being conducted by the Washington County Critical Incident Task Force.
