South Jordan man pleads guilty to shooting police officer in 2021

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SOUTH JORDAN — A South Jordan man has pleaded guilty to shooting a police officer in 2021, severing the femoral artery of the officer, shattering his femur and nearly killing him.

Malui Salesi Vehikite, 30, pleaded guilty June 5 to felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony; and two charges of assault against a police officer with a weapon, second-degree felonies, as part of a plea deal.

On Nov. 26, 2021, three South Jordan police officers went to try to find Vehikite, who was wanted for several felony warrants, at 10424 S. Tarali Court. A family member let the officers inside.

Two of the officers went downstairs. Body camera footage from the officer who was shot shows that while the officer was looking in the basement, he pushed a door to a bathroom open and then heard someone say, "Back up." The officer backed up into an adjacent bedroom.

Vehikite exited the bathroom, pointed his gun at a sergeant and then shot the other officer in the leg, according to charging documents. The sergeant chased Vehikite. An officer upstairs who had heard the first round of shots ran toward the stairwell as Vehikite was coming up the stairs. He said Vehikite put both hands on the gun and raised it toward the officer.

The officer shot Vehikite, who fell in the stairwell.

All three officers were wearing body cameras that were recording, according to prosecutors.

"The body camera footage clearly captures Malui pointing and shooting his firearm in the direction of (the officer) and clearly captures Malui pointing his firearm at (a second officer) who in response fires his weapon at Malui," a police booking affidavit states. "Mr. Vehikite knowingly shot a police officer and pointed his firearm in the direction of two other police officers, showing a disregard for human life."

The injured officer's wound was found to be potentially fatal if he had not been rushed to the hospital, charging documents said.

After the shooting, investigators returned to the house with a search warrant and collected evidence that included "several bullet fragments, casings, firearms, drug paraphernalia and multiple mixed prescription pills," along with marijuana and other THC drugs, court documents say.

In exchange for Vehikite's pleas, two charges were dismissed: purchase, transfer, possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony, and possession or use of a controlled substance, a class B misdemeanor.

Vehikite has a history of drug-related crimes and fleeing from police. He had four warrants out for his arrest at the time of the shooting, including two counts of failing to stop at the command of police, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, fleeing from police, and violating the conditions of his probation on a 2014 drug-related conviction.

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 9.