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Family seeks answers from sheriff’s office in son’s death

Posted at 5:56 PM, Nov 02, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-02 21:08:39-04

FILLMORE, Utah -- The family of 35-year-old Corey Kanosh say they want closure after he was killed by a Millard County Sheriff's deputy last month. In the mean time, they have joined protesters outside the sheriff's office.

A sheriff's deputy shot and killed Kanosh after a high-speed pursuit Oct. 15. Deputies say Kanosh was the suspect of a stolen car report and attempted to evade officers when he was spotted.They say Kanosh fought with an officer when his car got stuck in rugged terrain near Fillmore and was shot.

The family says they never got the full story from authorities.

"They're not telling us anything," said Kanosh's brother Jerald. "All we've heard is what we've read on the news. We are left to speculate. And it shouldn't be like that."

Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker says he has tried to reach out to the family but never received a response.

"I'm a little astounded that they say they want answers," said Dekker. "I've been attempting to contact people for two weeks now to visit them and nobody will answer phones or return calls."

Protesters too, feel the sheriff's office has not been forthcoming with information into Kanosh's death.

"What we are trying to do is bring attention to it and let everybody know we need answers fro this," said protester Christian Wormsley. "We are not going to go away; the family is hurting."

The deputy who pulled the trigger claims Kanosh attacked him. He says he tried to fight him off, but ultimately had to use the gun.

"He was in fear for his life the deputy was," said Dekker. "And so he felt like he had to go  use deadly force and that's what happened."

The family does not believe Kanosh engaged in a fist fight. They say they did not find bruises on the body to support that claim.

"Every little thing is just not adding up," said the victim's aunt Gari Lafferty.

The Utah County Sheriff's Office is leading an independent investigation into the shooting.

Past story: Preliminary report: Deadly force against suspect justified