Police Identify Man Involved In Early-Morning Shooting At Starbucks

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It was an early-morning shooting at Starbucks — not the coffee — that had everyone wide awake Thursday morning.

United Police Department identified the man who was shot following an attack on a barista. The incident happened just after 6 a.m. at the coffee franchise located at 3900 South and 900 East.

Benjamin S. Overall, 37, reportedly attacked  the barista, and that’s when another customer shot him.

Detectives told KSL TV they believe Overall may have mental issues and was recently released from a mental institution.

“He went directly inside, went behind the counter, assaulted one of the clerks, hit her in the back of the head, and may have also hit her a second time with a metal object,” said Unified Police Detective Ken Hansen.

Hansen said the man’s focus then switched to a man in his 60s, who is a regular customer. As the attacker approached the man, he took matters into his own hands to protect himself.

“The shooter pulled out a gun and shot him once in the chest,” Hansen said.

UPD said the incident started across the street at a 7-Eleven, where Overall had been harassing the clerks. He went to the Starbucks after he was asked to leave the convenience store.

“The assailant — who had been shot — exited the store, had a confrontation with our officers, and one of our officers shot him with a taser, which brought him down,” Hansen said. “When they turned that assailant over they determined he had a gunshot wound, so at that time they took him into custody and summoned medical for both him and for the clerk.”

The barista was taken to St. Mark’s for her head injuries and is in fair condition. Overall was taken to Intermountain Medical Center and was upgraded to satisfactory after being in critical condition.

The Starbucks will remain closed for the rest of the day while police investigate.