Suspect Killed After Reports Of Armed Robberies, Police Chase On State Street

SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah – A chase on State Street ended when the suspect’s vehicle crashed into a business just south of 3300 South on Monday.

An officer-involved critical incident followed just after 11 a.m.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said there was one suspect in the vehicle — a white truck — who was killed.

Police have since released the identity of that person as 37 year old Harold Vincent Robinson of West Valley City, Utah.

She said the person was a suspect in armed robberies in Taylorsville and Millcreek.

Again, major police situation near 3400 S State. High speed chase came to an end. Many shots fired. pic.twitter.com/7doc3eMowx

— DNews Crime Team (@DNewsCrimeTeam) April 8, 2019

Rivera said officials received a call of an armed robbery at 10:06 a.m. at a Holiday Oil in Taylorsville. They then got a call of another armed robbery about a half an hour later at a 7-Eleven up the street.

“There were shots fired there,” she said.

She noted that it hasn’t yet been confirmed that the suspects in both the armed robberies are the same person, however, the description of the suspects and the vehicles from both incidents match.

“We believe they’re all connected,” Rivera said.

Salt Lake City Police Department Chief Mike Brown said officers received a call of shots fired at 10:42 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in the area of 150 West and 500 South, Salt Lake City. There were no reports of injuries at that location.

Witnesses at the Sheraton described rapid gunfire.

“He was out of the truck… and just shooting into the air… and I couldn’t tell if he was shooting directly into a room or into the air. It just happened so quickly. It was 8-12 rounds and he was just firing one after another and it was the scariest thing,” said Dave Garrison, who called 911 and then his coworkers who were inside the hotel.

Deseret News reporter Lauren Bennett also witnessed the shots at the hotel.

“It was terrifying, yeah. I didn’t know if anyone was hurt. I couldn’t tell from where I was if he was shooting at someone,” Bennett said.

“That is confirmed that the suspect involved in that shooting is the suspect that is deceased here,” Chief Brown said.

Brown said police observed the vehicle on 500 South and initiated a pursuit south on State Street.

Unified Police Department, the Utah Highway Patrol and the Salt Lake City Police Department responded.

Local and federal agents on scene. Again, shell casings everywhere. Hearing multiple officers fired their weapons. Police starting to push spectators back and expand crime scene. pic.twitter.com/g53tT6g2LV

— DNews Crime Team (@DNewsCrimeTeam) April 8, 2019

“As the suspect was driving southbound on State Street, he was leaning out of the window, firing a rifle in the direction of our officers,” Brown said. “I’m not sure where those rounds went.”

“There are multiple scenes throughout Salt Lake City,” he added.

Officials said a Unified Police officer was injured later from a ricocheting bullet.

Rivera said the officer sustained “very minor injuries.”

There was one injury reported at 500 South and 2300 East in Salt Lake City, Brown said.

“Medics were called there, but nobody was transported,” he said. “So it could have been a minor injury. We’re not sure.”

Brown said there are no outstanding suspects at this time.

State Street at 3300 South was closed, and officials said it would remain closed during the investigation. Brown anticipated officers would be on scene into the evening.

Additional information will be made available as the investigation continues, officials said.

KSL TV’s Tania Dean contributed to this report.