Salt Lake City police shot a man who allegedly set his yard on fire, threatened responding firefighters and pointed a gun at officers Saturday night. The man was not seriously injured.
According to Salt Lake City police, firefighters first responded to the yard fire at a home near 1400 S. Utahna Drive shortly after 8 p.m., and a man threatened to shoot them.
When police later arrived, they “kept a safe distance and began multiple attempts to communicate” with the man as smoke billowed from the yard, according to a news release.
Police said the suspect went inside the home, came out with a gun and pointed it at officers. Two officers fired at the suspect, wounding him. The officers were not injured.
Salt Lake police did not specify how many shots were fired at the man. Police said they are still working to determine if the man fired his gun. The man’s name has not been released.
After police opened fire, the man went inside the home. Officers ultimately convinced him to surrender, and he was taken into custody, police said. The man was treated at a hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries.
The police shooting remains under investigation, and the two officers involved are on paid administrative leave. Anyone who witnessed the shooting, and anyone who has photos or videos of the shooting, may call 801-799-3000 and reference case No. 22-129713.
Saturday’s police shooting marked the eighth in Utah so far this year, according to a database maintained by The Salt Lake Tribune. The most recent police shooting was June 11 in Springville, when officers shot and killed Jonathan Hambleton, who reportedly rammed a police vehicle in a Walmart parking lot and threatened an officer with a knife.
