- A man in Salt Lake City engaged in a shootout with officers, police say.
- He shot at a tow truck driver and later at officers during a chase, police say.
- The suspect is in critical condition, and portions of two highways were temporarily closed.
SALT LAKE CITY — A man police say shot at a tow truck driver and then engaged in a shootout with officers as he tried to drive away is in critical condition.
"It is remarkable that none of our officers or community members were hurt during this dangerous incident," Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Monday.
Police say about 10:45 p.m. Sunday, a 44-year-old man fired multiple rounds at a tow truck driver near Redwood Road and North Temple and continued shooting as he drove off. The tow truck driver was not injured.
Salt Lake City police began searching the area and located the man's vehicle. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the man did not stop and a chase was initiated, police said.
"During the pursuit, the suspect continued shooting at officers. At least three Salt Lake City police patrol cars were damaged by gunfire," police stated.
Salt Lake police spokesman Brent Weisberg said Monday that police are still sorting out the timeline of events, but believe officers returned fire at least twice. The chase ended when officers performed a PIT maneuver on the fleeing vehicle near I-80 and North Temple near the Salt Lake City International Airport, disabling the vehicle.
The man was taken to a local hospital in critical condition to be treated for a gunshot injury. His name was not immediately released.
Because of the incident, I-80 was closed from the Bangerter Highway to I-215, as was Bangerter Highway from California Avenue to I-80, as police investigated the shooting. The Utah Highway Patrol and other agencies assisted Salt Lake police with the pursuit and helped shut down traffic.
Three officers and two police sergeants were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation by an officer-involved critical incident protocol team from West Jordan and the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
This story may be updated.
