News

Actions

Bank robbery suspect shot by police in West Jordan dies

Posted at 2:24 PM, Nov 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-03 01:22:42-04

WEST JORDAN, Utah - A suspected bank robber was shot and killed by a West Jordan police officer on Wednesday.

Late Wednesday night, police identified the deceased as 40-year-old Jesse Jay Taylor.

About 1:45 p.m., police got a call that the Mountain America Credit Union at 6761 South Redwood Road had been robbed by a man with a gun. They began a short pursuit but called it off for safety reasons.

Not long after, the suspect was spotted. The chase resumed, heading into a neighborhood near 9000 South and 1100 West.

"I seen a truck come hauling, and then he almost hit me," said Tory Gates, who saw the suspect behind the wheel of a gray pickup truck with police following close behind.

"We heard a big loud crash and some sirens and we came to our window," said Shauna Syphus, who looked out to see the suspect's truck crashed into the fence of a house across the street at 8870 South 1095 West.

Several neighbors started watching as police closed in on the suspect.

"They were telling him to stop and surrender and he wasn't and he kept running," said Shane Parker.

"I heard one of them scream or yell, 'He's got a gun,'" said Neil Benincosa, referring to police as they got closer to the suspect.

West Jordan police could not confirm how many shots were fired, or if the suspect fired any shots, only that the suspect was armed and had been reported to have robbed the bank at gunpoint.

At least one West Jordan police officer did fire his gun. The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is being handled by West Valley City police, as it is protocol under Utah law for an outside agency to investigate shootings involving officers.

"I can't believe I just saw that man, the police shoot that man; it's shocking, just from my living room," said Shauna Syphus.

She, like many others, watched from inside their homes, shocked and saddened to see a violent crime end in their neighborhood.