- Elhelbawy Adam Idrees, 26, was killed in a police standoff in West Jordan.
- Idrees had a history of arrests, including a 2018 shooting and probation violations.
- Eight officers and one trooper are on leave after firing their weapons during the incident.
WEST JORDAN — A man shot and killed during a standoff with police in West Jordan Tuesday was a documented gang member who had previously been arrested in a shooting investigation, had recently been the victim of a shooting, had a warrant out for his arrest and was supposed to be in federal court that morning.
Elhelbawy Adam Idrees, 26, died following a standoff with police and SWAT team members at a house at 1889 W. 7265 South. Police say shots were fired after SWAT team members entered the home, but no other details about the incident have been released. However, eight officers from the West Jordan Police Department and one Utah Highway Patrol trooper — all members of the joint SWAT team — have been placed on paid administrative leave for firing their weapons.
Idrees was previously arrested in 2018, when he was 19 years old in connection with a shooting at a smoke shop at 3925 S. State in Millcreek. Idrees shot an 18-year-old man in the thigh three times.
He was originally arrested for investigation of four counts of attempted aggravated murder for shooting the victim, who was standing near his friends, and three counts of felony discharge of a firearm. Idrees was later charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of discharge of a firearm, a second-degree felony, and convicted in a plea deal of one of those counts. He was given a suspended prison term and was sentenced to three years of probation, court records state.
Just four months later, however, he was arrested for a probation violation and then again three months after that, according to court records. In August 2019, his probation was revoked and Idrees was sent to prison.
In 2022, Idrees pleaded guilty in 3rd District Court to being a restricted person in possession of a gun in exchange for several other charges being dismissed. He was sentenced to an additional term of up to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.
In that case, Idrees, who was still wearing an ankle monitor after being released on parole from his prior conviction, was arrested in 2021 for stealing a car that had drugs and guns in it when police found it, according to court documents. That arrest also led to a federal indictment in November of 2021. Idrees was convicted of illegal transportation of firearms and sentenced to a little over two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Related:
Police arrest man in connection with Millcreek shooting
A man believed to be connected with a shooting at a smoke shop in Millcreek that left a man injured last week was arrested during a traffic stop Thursday night, police said.He was released from federal prison on May 23. At that time, he was on both federal supervised release and parole from the Utah State Prison.
On June 17, Idrees was shot multiple times in his back by a 16-year-old rival gang member in a parking lot near 3500 South and 4800 West, according to West Valley police. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, where he underwent surgery. The teen gunman was arrested. Police say the 16-year-old arrested in that case has ties to Matthiaz Centre Lauti Ioane-Register, the 16-year-old boy accused of killing three people earlier this year at WestFest
On July 31, after being released from the hospital, investigators say Idrees used meth. In August, he was issued a summons to appear in federal court for probation violations. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole issued an arrest warrant for Idrees on Aug. 29 for allegedly absconding from parole on Aug. 27 and stealing a car on Aug. 28, according to the board and Adult Probation and Parole. He was scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday but failed to show up, according to court records.
