OGDEN, Utah — A man was shot and killed by a police officer in Ogden on Sunday after he pulled out a fake but realistic-looking gun during a domestic incident involving his estranged wife.
Ogden Police Chief Jake Sube said officers were dispatched to a home near 900 East and 1150 North around noon. The caller requested police to stand by and keep the peace while she collected her belongings from her home.
Shortly after the first officer arrived, the woman's estranged husband — later identified as 45-year-old Jeffrey Allen Blue — allegedly became confrontational. The officer called in backup, and another officer responded to assist. Sube said Blue was acting angry and "uncooperative" after the woman and officers entered the home.
In an update two days after the shooting, Sube said Blue "made a statement about getting a gun," then went further into the home and came out with what appeared to be a handgun. One of the officers then shot him. Despite lifesaving efforts, Blue was pronounced dead at the scene.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave, and an investigation is now underway by the Weber County Critical Incident Investigation Team.
Investigators have since learned that Blue was wielding a "replica" handgun — "designed to closely resemble a functioning firearm."
"While this finding clarifies the nature of the object, it does not diminish the complexity and gravity of the circumstance faced by the officer," Sube said.
FOX 13 News spoke with Chris Bertram, a retired deputy chief of the Unified Police Department.
"Thirty years ago, when I would see a replica gun, it would be maybe made out of plastic, but it looked very real. Today they're made out of metal. They function in action in some cases and they're very difficult to distinguish," he said.
Bertram shared a similar experience he had during his law enforcement career.
"I got into a foot pursuit with a teenager who went into a bathroom at a gas station, and as I entered the bathroom, he ... had his hand in, down in his waistband and he was pulling out what appeared to be a gun," said Bertram.
During his incident, Bertram said he immediately grabbed the gun, as well as his own firearm, while contemplating his next decision.
"I got control of it and what I realized later was it was a plastic replica," said Bertram. "The replica looked just like the firearm that I carried."
Sube said the shooting was captured on the officer's body-worn camera. The footage has not been released yet but is expected to be released in the future.
"We do want to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family of the loved ones who are affected by this tragic event," Sube said. "We acknowledge the difficulty that any loss of life brings to our community as part of our standard procedures."
Sube added Tuesday that officers have responded to the couple's home multiple times since 2021, although details about those reports were not immediately known.
Kimmi Wolf, a communications specialist with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, says there is a general increase in terms of callers to hotlines during this time of year. She says those can be actual individuals needing assistance or maybe family and friends who have concerns and want to know how they can help.
"I just read an article from one of our service providers and they're saying that their particular organization sees an increase of 10 to 15 percent in around the holidays," said Wolf.
Wolf says in this particular situation in Ogden, the victim did what she could do to keep herself safe.
"If she had a reason for concern, which she did, utilizing the protection of police officers if they're not there to arrest anyone just as peacekeepers, that is a resource that is available to someone," said Wolf.
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Resources for domestic violence victims/prevention (free, 24/7, confidential):
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition
- Hotline: 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- Online help: udvc.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Online live chat: thehotline.org
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.
