Man shot, killed by police after domestic violence situation in Taylorsville
Oct 5, 2023, 5:49 AM | Updated: 7:24 pm
TAYLORSVILLE — One man is dead following a police standoff and shooting in Taylorsville late Wednesday night.
Officers with the Taylorsville Police Department responded to the area of 5000 South and 3800 West for a domestic violence situation. Police say they arrived and found 34-year-old Joseph Potts intoxicated and armed.
A woman and her 3-month-old child were able to escape the home shortly before officers arrived and were not harmed in the incident. After they left the home, the man began shooting inside and outside the home with a rifle.
“As that was going on, they were attempting to call and negotiate with him and were not having success with that,” said Taylorsville Police Department Lt. Cheshire.
SWAT officers were called to the home, along with several detectives and the department’s victim advocate.
Police say at some point, Potts exited the home wearing tactical-type gear and showed his rifle. He was then shot and killed by a SWAT officer. No officers were injured in the incident.
An officer-involved critical incident protocol team from the Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating the shooting. The SWAT officer who shot Potts has been placed on administrative, per OICI protocol.
Police said Potts had no history of aggravated violence and they had not had any previous contact with him.
Domestic violence resources
If you or someone you know is going through abuse, help is available.
- In an emergency, call 911.
- The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
- Resources are also available online at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition website.
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah’s statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
This is a breaking story. It may be updated.
