West Valley officer injured in shootout released from hospital

Crime tape and a heavy police presence surround a 7-11 in Taylorsville on Dec. 1 after two police officers were shot and the gunman was killed at 4110 S. Redwood Road. A West Valley police officer was released from the hospital over the weekend.

Crime tape and a heavy police presence surround a 7-11 in Taylorsville on Dec. 1 after two police officers were shot and the gunman was killed at 4110 S. Redwood Road. A West Valley police officer was released from the hospital over the weekend. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)


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WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Valley police officer shot and injured during a shootout with a man wanted in a rape and robbery investigation has been released from the hospital.

"We're pleased to announce our officer who was shot on Dec. 1 was released from the hospital over the weekend. The officer was hit in the leg, and in the area between the shoulder/chest. He underwent two surgeries to repair his wounds. Thanks to all who've sent well wishes!" the police department tweeted Monday afternoon while also including video of the officer leaving the hospital in a wheelchair as his fellow officers lined the sidewalk.

The officer then received a police escort as he was driven away from the hospital in a private vehicle.

The officer, whose name has not been released, was injured in a shootout with Anei Gabriel Joker, 20, on Wednesday following the conclusion of a standoff in the parking lot of a Taylorsville 7-Eleven, 4110 S. Redwood Road. Officers from several jurisdictions were working an operation that night looking for several suspects, including Joker, according to West Valley police. Details about the what kind of operation was being conducted have not been released.

Joker was spotted in a car, which initially had two others adults and a baby inside. At some point, the other adults got out. As police surrounded Joker and ordered him to also get out of the car, he refused, according to police.

After negotiating with Joker for about an hour, a team of officers was allowed to approach his vehicle and take the baby away from the vehicle. But Joker still refused to come out. When officers tried to get Joker out of the vehicle by firing pepper balls into his car, he exited his vehicle and opened fire, hitting both the West Valley officer and a Unified police officer.

The Unified officer, who has been with the department for nine years, was treated and released from the hospital that night. Joker was hit by multiple rounds from officers who returned fire and he died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

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Pat Reavy is a longtime police and courts reporter. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that.

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