Orem man arrested in shootout taunted, 'Let's have a gunfight in the street,' police say

OREM — An Orem man who had been hospitalized Thursday has been booked into the Utah County Jail after police say he barricaded himself inside his apartment and exchanged gunfire with police, shooting at officers multiple times during an hourslong standoff.

Zackrey Gage Newman, 31, was arrested for investigation of three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, two counts of child abuse, two counts of discharge of a firearm, criminal mischief, intoxication and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child.

During the tense standoff, Newman threatened to have a shootout with officers in the street and fired multiple times at officers, according to a police booking affidavit.

Thursday's incident began just after 4 a.m. at a basement apartment in the area of 400 South and 700 East, when 911 dispatchers received a call reporting that Newman had assaulted his wife and that she and her two children had gone to a neighbor's house, according to the affidavit.

Police say they learned that Newman had been drinking Wednesday night and arguing with his wife over relationship issues.

The wife eventually locked herself in her bedroom with her children, but Newman "was able to enter by damaging the door" and told each of them, "You're done! …You're all done!" the affidavit alleges.

"Zackrey began swinging both his fists as (his wife) shielded herself and her children with her feet and legs, as she was in fear for her safety as well as the safety of her children," according to the affidavit.

Newman then went into the main living area where a gunshot was heard. The wife and children at that point crawled out of a bedroom window and went to a neighbor's home for help.

When officers arrived, they made contact with Newman at the front door and said they told him multiple times to drop the gun.

"Zack began to exit the residence with the firearm in his hand. Zack did not drop the gun. Shots were fired at Zack. Zack retreated back into the residence. With Zack back inside the residence, another gunshot was heard from inside the residence by officers. A short time later, Zack returned to the front door. Zack said if he came outside, there would be a gunfight in the street and either he, Zack, or an officer would die," the arrest report states.

When Newman opened his door a second time, an officer on scene "stated he felt something hit his sleeve and he thought he had been shot in the sleeve of his shirt. After a second volley of gunfire, Zack returned into the residence," according to the affidavit.

As police continued to talk to Newman through a window, he told them "'there was no coming back from this' and if he opened the door again he would shoot officers. Multiple times, Zack said to officers, 'Let's have a gunfight in the street,'" the affidavit states.

When a SWAT team arrived on scene, three SWAT team members approached the residence and police say Newman again "fired one or more rounds through a window in the door toward officers."

Orem police said Thursday that after several hours of negotiation, Newman was eventually taken into custody and then to a local hospital to be treated for undisclosed injuries. No officers were injured.

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