Suspect from Rockville ‘active shooter’ situation dies

HURRICANE, Utah — Authorities confirmed a 55-year-old man accused of exchanging gunfire with officers multiple times and leading them on a pursuit that spanned from Hurricane to Rockville near Zion National Park has died.

Lt. David Crouse with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect, who was identified as Shannon Alan Griffin, of Rockville, on Thursday, died Saturday morning as an apparent result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound he sustained during the Oct. 6 incident.

Griffin allegedly brandished a weapon at a father and daughter on State Street in Hurricane on Wednesday. Deputies arrived at a nearby business after witnesses reported seeing Griffin’s truck.

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Officers said Griffin refused to leave his truck and took off toward state Route 9.

With police in pursuit, investigators said Griffin began firing at other cars along the road, damaging at least 10 while traveling at speeds that at times exceeded 100 mph.

“This could have had catastrophic consequences and people were extremely lucky,” Crouse said at a Thursday afternoon news conference recapping the mayhem. “We heard of one report of a bullet hole actually going through the shirt of one of the victims.”

Officers attempted to spike the truck’s tires near milepost 25, about 7 miles outside Zion National Park, and investigators confirmed one officer opened fire at Griffin at that point.

Griffin’s truck came to a stop in Rockville, where investigators said there was another exchange of gunfire before Griffin fled into a neighborhood.

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Residents were ordered to shelter in place until Griffin was eventually located around 6:15 p.m., following a large-scale containment involving local, state and federal law enforcement.

Officers said Griffin was taken to St. George Regional Hospital after he suffered what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

Crouse said the county is still investigating the incident and it will release a report regarding the involved officer’s use of lethal force once the investigation is finished.