SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — A man allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle was shot and killed Friday by police officers after gunfire was exchanged multiple times during a pursuit in South Jordan.
The South Jordan Police Department said officers originally responded to a call of a vehicle theft just before 10:30 p.m. near 9400 South and 4600 West.
Once police located the suspect in the vehicle, he fired at officers, leading them to return fire before the man fled on foot.
The unidentified suspect was later found in the backyard of a South Jordan home where multiple agencies responded and gunfire was exchanged during a second interaction.
After being struck by gunfire, the man was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
The area where the shooting took place was closed to the public through the morning while an Officer Involved Critical Incident team investigated.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.
Friday's incident is the fourth shooting involving law enforcement officials in Utah this week.
Neighbor Delaney Bradshaw, who was at home with his 6-year-old daughter when it happened, said the suspect was hiding in his roommate’s car Friday night. After police fired shots at the suspect, Bradshaw said the suspect ran through their backyard, jumped their fence, and ran into their neighbor’s yard.
“Once police asked us to stay inside, I went over to our home’s security footage and saw everything. I thought, ‘Whoa, it happened right on our driveway,’” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw said he’s mainly relieved that his daughter, Arielle, is safe.
“Everyone was safe in the house. I let the police do their job,” he said. “I was more worried about my daughter’s safety.”
Neighbors Jay and Wanda Zamber said they were heading to bed before their granddaughter, Lily, told them that police notified her to stay away from their doors and windows. The couple said police later asked them to leave their home since the suspect was in their backyard.
“We heard what we thought were firecrackers,” Jay said. “We thought, ‘I know New Year’s Day just passed, maybe people are lighting up late firecrackers.'”
The couple, who has lived in their home since 1998, said this is the first time they’ve experienced an active shooter in their neighborhood.
Police said Saturday that they’re evaluating the incident and will have updates on Monday. The West Valley City Police Department is taking over the investigation of the officer-involved shooting.
