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Authorities identify man accused of fatally shooting Provo Police officer

Posted at 12:44 PM, Jan 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-07 23:40:04-05

PROVO, Utah -- Orem Police have identified the man suspected of shooting and killing Provo Police Officer Joseph Shinners.

Orem Police identified the suspect Monday as 40-year-old Matt Frank Hoover.

Police say the suspect was last known to reside in the Fillmore area but say he had recently been staying in various locations in Utah and Salt Lake counties.

Hoover had two outstanding felony warrants out for his arrest at the time he encountered Officer Shinners behind a store in Orem Saturday night, Orem Police stated Monday. One warrant was related to a drug offense, the other for the unauthorized control of a motor vehicle.

Provo police got a tip that Hoover was in the Bed Bath and Beyond parking lot in Orem. They knew Hoover might be dangerous.

“We had previously received information from a third party that he would not be going back to prison which insinuated to them that he would be confrontational with police,” said Lt. Colledge.

The exact details of what happened when police confronted Hoover have not been released. But we do know, before his death, Officer Shinners fired his weapon.

“There was a confrontation with law enforcement both the suspect and an officer fired a weapon,” said Lt. Colledge

Hoover was shot. He is in stable condition in a local hospital and will face charges of aggravated murder.
"We certainly appreciate those men and women in uniform who go out there, and every day go out the door, to serve and protect and know that they may not be coming home," Gov. Gary Herbert said Monday regarding Shinners' death.

Orem Police say Hoover faces charges of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, possession of a weapon by a restricted person and possession of methamphetamine in connection with Saturday's incident.

Court records show Hoover has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1997 with charges for crimes that include drug possession, theft, forgery and burglary.

Fox 13 News will update this story as more details emerge.