TAYLORSVILLE, Utah - A standoff caused a partial evacuation of a Taylorsville neighborhood.
Monday afternoon Unified Police Officers were sent to a house at 4155 West and 6550 South on a domestic violence call.
When officers arrived they began to approach the house and heard at least one gun shot inside the residence.
“When officers arrived in the area, they heard shots fired. They immediately backed up a little bit, called our SWAT team out,” said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera.
The SWAT team surrounded the house, several neighbors were outside at the time.
“Somebody ran out saying there’s a guy in there with a gun and we heard a couple of shots,” said Lewis Doyle. Doyle was outside with his grandkids when he heard two pops. He and other family members rushed back inside. Soon, they watched a flood of police fill the neighborhood.
“We come in force in situations like this,” said Sheriff Rivera.
A man and a woman, who police have identified as "AV," were still in the house surrounded by SWAT members and negotiators.
AV said her husband, Frank Asifoa, whom she'd been separated from since September, came into the house and started to argue with her about their truck.
She then said the argument escalated, he pulled out a gun and started pointing it at her, according to court documents. AV said she went into the bathroom and started to "talk him away from the pistol," moments later he fired one shot into the television set in the master bedroom.
A little less than two hours into the standoff, AV said she was able to talk to Asifoa and get the pistol away from him, she then left the house and met the officers waiting outside.
“She indicated the male would come out if we offered some type of mental health help to him,” said Sheriff Rivera.
Shortly after, Franklin Asifoa, age 46, came out and surrendered peacefully.
Asifoa was booked into jail on felony charges of aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm, as well as misdemeanor criminal mischief.
