CENTERVILLE — As the investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting on Legacy Parkway continued Wednesday, family and friends remembered Cody Ray McCray as a good man who was having a hard time shaking his demons.

McCray, 32, of West Bountiful, was shot Tuesday by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper after leading troopers and Centerville police on a chase that ended on Legacy Parkway.

Centerville Police Sgt. Von Steenblik said McCray had stolen his girlfriend's car and was driving around Davis and Salt Lake counties, attempting to avoid police since 2 a.m. Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that McCray may have had the intention of committing "suicide by cop."

The stolen car was spotted again at 9:15 a.m., this time heading north on Legacy Parkway and approaching the Parrish Lane exit. The vehicle exited and went east on Parrish Lane toward Main, police said.

"This information was very concerning to police officials in both Centerville and West Bountiful due to the thousands of people gathered in both towns for the festivities. Officers from Centerville and West Bountiful were instructed to make all reasonable efforts to keep the subject out of the areas where large groups had gathered for the two parades," according to a prepared statement from Centerville police.

Police prevented McCray from going farther onto Parrish Lane, and he soon got back on Legacy Parkway. There, police attempted to stop the stolen vehicle using spike strips and PIT maneuvers, Steenblik said.

That's when McCray turned around and started driving into oncoming traffic.

"He intentionally rammed two of the Centerville police cars as he was driving in the wrong direction. And that's when we decided we definitely had to stop him," Steenblik said.

After hitting a Centerville patrol car in a "head-on trajectory," another patrol car hit McCray's vehicle and pushed it into the median. The stolen car was driving on four rims by that point, Steenblik said, which started a small grass fire in the median.

What happened from that point was still under investigation Wednesday.

A UHP trooper fired multiple shots, hitting and killing McCray while he was still in his vehicle, police said.

Related:

Police shoot, kill West Bountiful man following chase on Legacy Parkway

One man is dead after an officer-involved shooting on Legacy Parkway Tuesday morning following a chase that began near a Centerville Fourth of July parade.

Steenblik declined to say what evidence was recovered later from the stolen vehicle, what prompted the trooper to shoot McCray, or whether the man was armed.

The trooper involved was expected to be interviewed Thursday or Friday by those investigating the shooting, Steenblik said. All body-camera and dashcam footage was being collected as evidence.

As for why McCray stole his girlfriend's car and may have wanted police to shoot him, Steenblik would only say Wednesday that a drug problem "is playing into this," but he declined to give further details.

On McCray's Facebook page, friends and family members posted messages of condolence Wednesday. Several people also mentioned that the father of two had been struggling with addiction.

A woman who said she was McCray's grandmother said it was sad to see what the devil's workshop "can do with a handsome young man."

"He was fighting so hard to stay straight. Then (things) changed when the devil called drugs came back in his life. Cody (had) been doing so good before this," the post continued.

The woman called McCray a hardworking man who "did want to stay off all the drugs. But he couldn't do it. Now he's gone and everyone has got great memories of him," according to the post.

"I love and will miss (him) very much. I pray that now all your pain is gone and you will be missed dearly."

"You were a great person. You were so full of life. Prayers to your family and may you be at peace and no longer in pain," another person posted.

"May you finally rest in peace my friend Cody McCray," wrote another, describing McCray as "always willing to lend a hand, no questions asked."

Another person posted, "I hope you found the peace you were looking for my friend. And always remember that we love you. (We) always have and always will."

McCray had a history of fleeing from police and drug-related crimes, according to Utah court records. Most recently, he was convicted of failing to stop at the command of a law enforcer in January, and previously in March 2016. He was sentenced to probation in both cases.

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