Investigators have identified a man who was shot and killed by officers on Sunday after he rammed a police vehicle and approached officers with a weapon.
Police fatally shot Robert Joseph Evans, 29, of Farmington, according to a joint statement by the Utah Highway Patrol and the Farmington Police.
Earlier, the agencies issued a statement saying that, just after 2 a.m. on Sunday, the Farmington Police Department and Utah Highway Patrol were close to wrapping up a stolen-vehicle investigation near the intersection of 650 West and State Street when a man crashed his car into a Farmington Police Department patrol vehicle.
The driver emerged from his car armed, advanced on the officers, and “aggressively engaged the officers and troopers,” according to the statement.
“The driver failed to respond to verbal commands and deadly force was utilized,” it added.
Farmington police officers and UHP troopers shot at the man, firing an unknown number of shots. Life-saving measures were immediately initiated, and the man was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He “later died from gunshot wounds sustained in the encounter.”
In a news conference streamed online, UHP Lt. Nick Street and Farmington Police Chief Wayne Hansen said they could not immediately disclose exactly what the man was armed with, though Street elaborated that “the weapon was one that could cause death or serious bodily injury to the officers.”
Hansen said he was not yet aware if the man said anything to officers as the episode unfolded.
No officers or troopers were injured in the shooting, which is under investigation by the Davis County Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) Protocol Team.
Body cameras captured the altercation. Footage will be released pending the conclusion of the investigation and release of findings by the OICI Protocol Team and Davis County Attorney’s Office.
There is a residential complex near the scene, and Street said witnesses have come forward with information.
The DPS statement said investigators believe the encounter “is a completely separate incident from the initial stolen vehicle investigation.” Street said they’re investigating whether the initial crash into the patrol vehicle was intentional, “to be 100% sure, but based on the actions after the crash, you can make your own assumptions there.”