Ogden Officer Killed After Responding To Domestic Violence Call; Another Injured

OGDEN, Utah – Officials with the Ogden Police Department confirmed one officer was killed and another was injured in a shooting Thursday afternoon.

Police also confirmed the suspect from the incident had died.

Officials on Friday identified the fallen officer as Nate Lyday.

Ogden Police also identified the suspect as John Benedict Coleman, 53.

Ribbons and flowers now decorate the @OGDEN_POLICE building in honor of the officer shot and killed today after just 15 months on the job. pic.twitter.com/nypS089oG6

— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) May 28, 2020

“Our hearts are broken,” said Chief Randy Watt with the Ogden Police Department. “We’ve lost one of our own…Let us not forget such fine men and women who offer themselves up for this fine and noble calling.”

There was a large police presence in the area of Jackson Avenue and Harrop Street in Ogden Thursday afternoon following the incident.

Watt said officers were responding to a domestic violence call and a woman reported her husband was threatening to kill her.

Officers on the scene said they found a man on the porch, later identified as Coleman and he was uncooperative with police. He then entered the home and shut the door, Watt said.

Two officers were shot at the residence, authorities said. Police confirmed Lyday, who had been on the job for 15 months, was shot through the door of the home. He was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital and died in the emergency room Thursday afternoon, Watt said.

Confirmed. @OGDEN_POLICE says an Ogden police officer has been killed. Only on the job 15 months. He was shot and killed.

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 28, 2020

The second officer, who was with Adult Probation & Parole, was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“One of our agents was struck by gunfire as he and his partner responded to an emergency call,” said Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Mike Haddon. “Our agent has been treated and released from a local hospital for non-life threatening wounds. We will not be releasing the name at this time. We have no further comment, except that our hearts are broken and we mourn with the Ogden Police Department for the loss of a fellow law enforcement officer. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this fallen hero.”

Police officers from departments across northern Utah gathered at the hospital to escort the fallen officer’s body to the state medical examiner’s office in Taylorsville.

Officers responded to the 300 block of Jackson Avenue shortly after noon. Residents at 1:14 p.m. received an emergency alert instructing them to shelter in place due to an active police incident.

Police said there was no further threat to the public and the scene had been contained.

However, Jackson Avenue will be locked down from 2nd Street to 6th Street for up to 24 hours as authorities investigate the situation.

Area on Harrop and Jackson remains closed in Ogden. Expecting another update at 3:40 p.m. One neighbor tells us they heard 30-40 shots being fired around 12:45 p.m. An officer on scene said there were 2 officers injured- info yet to be officially confirmed. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/fi5E3bIRM4

— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) May 28, 2020

Social media users in an Ogden Facebook group reported hearing gunshots in the area. Some posted videos of police responding to the neighborhood as well as a helicopter circling the area.

“I heard 30 to 40 gunshots,” said neighbor Brecken Tingey. “They just went off, one after another.”

Domestic Violence Resources

Call the Utah Domestic Violence Hotline (Utah Link line) at 1-800-897-LINK for help and resources statewide.

Individuals can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.