Man Killed By Police During Domestic Violence Call, Standoff

KEARNS, Utah – One man was killed by police after they responded to a domestic violence call in Salt Lake County. They said he pointed a gun at his grandson and fired on officers.

Sgt. Melody Cutler from the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake said a woman called emergency dispatchers around 8 p.m. Saturday about an aggravated domestic incident at 5706 W China Clay Drive in Kearns, near the West Valley City boundary.

Police said the suspect was holding a gun to his 15-year-old grandson’s head and threatening to kill him. The woman was identified as the teen’s grandmother.

When officers arrived on the scene, they said two shots were fired from the house.

The woman and four grandchildren between the ages of 10 to 15 were able to get out of the house and went a neighbor.

Cutler said SWAT a negotiation team were called to the scene after the man barricaded himself inside. Police asked residents to shelter in place.

The man was seen coming out of the home and yelling at officers.

Officials said the last time the suspect came out, he pointed a gun at officers and fired shots.

Three officers returned fire, striking the suspect and causing fatal injuries. His identity was not available.

Two of the officers were from the Unified Police Department. One was from the West Valley City Police Department.

No officers were injured.

All six family members lived at the home – including the four grandchildren and two grandparents. Cutler said there was no history of domestic violence at the address.

Investigators were working to determine exactly what led up to the incident.