SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Family members of a man who was shot and killed during an encounter with South Jordan police Saturday have confirmed the man’s identity Sunday.
Family members tell FOX 13 News the man is 26-year-old Ty Elvin Worthington. While family members have given the man's name, police have not yet confirmed the identity of the man who was shot.
Records indicate Worthington's most recent listed address matches the address of the home where the 911 call originated Saturday. Police have confirmed that the man who was killed was known to the person who called 911 but did not provide specific information.
Worthington was shot and killed Saturday after police responding to a trespassing call encountered Worthington in a horse pasture a short distance from where the trespassing call originated.
Police have provided very few details regarding the incident and the events that occurred before the officer, described as a “tenured supervisor”, shot Worthington.
South Jordan police said the incident is under investigation and they would not be releasing further details at this time.
This is at least the ninth fatal officer-involved shooting to occur in Utah in 2014. Utah law allows officers to use lethal force if they feel it is necessary, though the decision on whether that action is justified is generally handled by a district attorney.
Master Officer Sam Winkler, South Jordan PD, said officers face uncertainty in such situations.
“Police encounter unknown persons in general all of the time, and they don’t know what the purpose is, we don’t know what the other person’s intentions are, so it can be a very dangerous job and things happen very quickly,” he said.
The shooting is being investigated internally by the police department, and the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a separate investigation. The officer involved is on leave, as per standard procedure.
