Sandy police legally justified in fatal shooting during domestic violence investigation

SALT LAKE CITY — Two Sandy police officers who shot and killed a man armed with a knife while responding to a domestic violence incident were legally justified in shooting him, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

On March 22, police were called to a residence near 8800 South, just west of Highland Drive, on a report that Isaac Jesse Watters, 45, was trying to break into his home that his estranged wife had intentionally locked him out of, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill's final report.

"Mr. Watters began telling them that he wanted them to shoot him and then became insistent that they do so. Mr. Watters then produced a fixed-blade knife from a sheath under his right lower pant leg and began charging across the entryway towards the officers, who quickly drew their handguns and fired at him," according to Gill's report.

Police had been called to the house about five hours earlier by Watters, who "requested police presence to retrieve money from his residence," the report states. Watters said his wife had changed the locks on the home while he was in the Salt Lake County Jail on a recent arrest.

"The officers observed that Mr. Watters' behavior appeared anxious and erratic. The officers verified that there were no active protective orders prohibiting Mr. Watters from being at the residence or contacting (his wife)," Gill stated in his report.

Watters eventually left. But just before 3 p.m., police were called back to the home after receiving a report that Watters had broken into the residence.

Less than two minutes after police entered the residence, Watters charged at officers with a knife, the report states. Both officers Glenn Ware and Ryan Shaddick fired six times, killing Watters.

Gill is currently holding a press conference to go over the findings of his report and to show body camera videos.

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