Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A man is in life-threatening condition after being shot by Salt Lake police.
- The incident began with a traffic stop for driving without headlights near 600 West.
- The man fled, crashed into parked cars, and was shot after ignoring commands.
SALT LAKE CITY — A man is in life-threatening condition after being shot by a Salt Lake police officer Monday night.
The series of events began about 11 p.m. near 600 W. South Temple when an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle for allegedly driving with no headlights on, said Salt Lake police spokesman Brent Weisberg.
"The officer also noted the driver sped through a railroad crossing as the crossing arms had come down, creating a significant safety hazard," he said.
The driver did not pull over, however, and continued south on 600 West, according to a statement from Salt Lake police. A short time later, the car was found abandoned near 70 S. 600 West after the driver appeared to have crashed into several parked vehicles. Officers, including some with police K-9s, began searching the area.
About 11:45 p.m., an officer spotted a man near the abandoned car on the railroad tracks.
"The officer gave multiple commands for the suspect to stop running, but the man did not comply. The Salt Lake officer fired at least one shot at the suspect, wounding him, and requested urgent backup," according to police.
"Based on the preliminary investigation, the officer gave repeated commands for the suspect to stop. The suspect continued to run, ignored those commands, and we believe, repeatedly, reached toward his waistband. A weapon has not been confirmed or recovered at this point, but that remains part of the investigation," Weisberg added.
Police say the man, whose name has not yet been released, was "stable" when he was taken to a local hospital, but by 3 a.m., investigators were informed that "his injuries are now considered life-threatening." Police also believe the man shot is the same man who crashed into the parked cars, but that remained under investigation Tuesday.
The officer sustained several scrapes.
"The use of force in this case was a rapidly unfolding incident," Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said in a statement. "It highlights the risks and dangers our officers face every day, often with little warning and in circumstances that require split-second decision-making."
