Springdale police Wednesday evening said a suspect had been apprehended after an “active shooter” situation was reported at about 4:30 p.m. in Rockville, which sits about 5 miles southwest of Zion National Park.
The situation stemmed from a fight in Hurricane that was reported at about 3:41 p.m., according to a news release from the Washington County Critical Incident Task Force. During the fight, a man reportedly “brandished a handgun.” When responding officers attempted to stop the man, he drove off, headed east on state Route 9 toward Zion, the release states.
As he continued east, he began shooting at vehicles on state Route 9, according to the release. It remains unclear if anyone he opened fire at was hurt.
Officers deployed a tire-deflation device in an attempt to stop the the vehicle near milepost 25, then exchanged gunfire with the man as he drove through the area and continued toward Rockville, the release states.
Residents were advised to shelter in place
The man crashed in Rockville, then ran into a residential neighborhood and again exchanged gunfire with officers, the release states. Springdale police advised residents at about 4:30 p.m. to stay away from the area and shelter in place while officers responded.
State, federal and local police responded with SWAT assistance to contain the suspect, the release states. They located the man injured with a “suspected gunshot wound” at about 6:15 p.m. The release did not mention if any officers were hurt.
The man was transported to St. George Regional Hospital for his injuries, but his condition remains unknown, the release states.
The Washington County Critical Incident Task Force continues to investigate the shooting. Any potential victims who have yet to speak with police may contact dispatch at 435-634-5730 to speak with an investigator, the release states.
The situation prompted the closure of state Route 9 in Rockville, but the roadway was reopened hours later.
Springdale police initially described the since-apprehended suspect as armed and dangerous. Area residents also received an emergency alert via email instructing them to shelter in place. It warned of an armed suspect on foot who was described as a white male in his 50s with a salt-and-pepper goatee wearing a gray shirt, blue hat and glasses.
Witness account
Jayson Jessop was on his way home from work in Springdale when he let a patrol car go by, its lights flashing. He didn’t think much of it at the time, but when he got to Rockville he heard sirens — then gunshots.
“I made sure I was stopped safe and ducked for cover in my car,” Jessop said. “I heard about, I don’t know, eight or nine shots, and then just sat there on the side of the road and waited for more cops to show up.”
Jessop’s first thought was to call his daughter, who was waiting for him at home to celebrate his birthday Wednesday. He told her he loved her, and that if he made it out, he’d be home soon.
“It was just a scary situation,” Jessop said.
At one point, police escorted a witness who had reportedly run from the suspect to a perimeter they’d set up just behind Jessop’s car, Jessop said.
He continued to wait as “more cops and more more park rangers — all with full riot gear, shields and automatic rifles — just kept pouring into the area.”
People were scared, Jessop said. Scared enough that someone stuck in traffic behind Jessop’s car threatened to push Jessop’s vehicle out of the way with his truck to get through. Officers eventually had Jessop “just sit there and block traffic” with his vehicle for about a half hour until they started backing up traffic to head back toward Springdale.
Jessop returned to work in Springdale before officers reopened the roadway and allowed him to head home through Rockville.
“All I could do was duck down as far as I could in my car,” Jessop said. He didn’t feel particularly safe, “but I did the best I could to get into cover.”
The Washington County Critical Incident Task Force said more information would be released as it becomes available.
