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Man arrested after officer-involved shooting

Posted at 5:40 PM, Jan 16, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-17 13:36:58-05

FARMINGTON, Utah -- A man shot at a vehicle on Legacy Highway, led police on a high speed chase through neighborhoods before getting into a shootout with officers here, police said.

Marco Guizar, 37, was booked into Davis County Jail in connection with the shooting. Jail records show he was booked on numerous counts of aggravated assault, attempted murder, possession of a dangerous weapons, failure to stop at the command of an officer, interfering with arrest and an immigration detainer.

01-17-marco-guizar-arrestThe shooting happened about 5 p.m. Wednesday, Farmington Police Chief Wayne Hansen said. Emergency dispatchers received several 911 calls about a man who shot at a pickup truck on Legacy Highway near Park Lane.

"Two Davis County Sheriff's deputies noticed the vehicle, the vehicle saw them and noticed they were police officers and there was a high speed pursuit," said Hansen.

The pursuit ended at the intersection of 650 W. State Street, down the street from the Davis County Justice Center -- a complex of the sheriff's office, county attorney's office and the 2nd District courthouse.

Hansen said shots were fired by the suspect and officers. One of the officers involved in the shooting is a Davis County Sheriff's deputy, the other a Farmington police officer.

"There were shots exchanged between the suspect and police officers. We don't know a lot of circumstances," Hansen said. "We're in the middle of investigating that."

A man who witnessed the shooting told FOX 13 he saw a man he presumed to be a plainclothes police officer fire several shots.

"I could see a person running up and pull his hand out and shoot through the passenger window and windshield," the man, who did not want to be identified, said. "I heard four or five shots."

Hansen told reporters late Wednesday night that Guizar was not hit by any of the bullets. He was taken to Davis Hospital and released. Detectives were questioning him late Wednesday. Hansen described him as "cooperative."

No officers were injured, but both were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.

Police from numerous agencies in Davis County were on scene investigating the shooting on Wednesday night. The suspect's vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry, sat with its driver's side door and trunk open in the cold night. An unmarked police car was next to it. Both vehicles were surrounded by crime scene tape.

The Camry was a rental car with Texas plates, the police chief said. The shooting on Legacy Highway appeared to be random.

Hansen confirmed to FOX 13 investigators believed this shooting is tied to a similar shooting on I-215 on Tuesday. A man was wanted for shooting at a vehicle there.

"It looks very possible and we're looking into that," Hansen said. "That's part of what we're looking at tonight and we'll get together with Salt Lake investigators and determine if there is any connection."

Guizar has an alleged criminal history dating back to 1993, including burglary, aggravated robbery, witness tampering, threatening use of a firearm and carrying a concealed, dangerous weapon.