West Valley City police released body camera footage this week that shows an officer opening fire on an armed man on Aug. 7 who was suspected in a separate shooting earlier that day.
The police shooting unfolded outside Salt Lake’s Indoor Swapmeet. Two seconds into the one-minute video clip police released, an officer can be seen firing at Mitchell Van Halsey, 39.
The first 30 seconds of the footage were filmed in the camera’s “buffering” mode, according to West Valley City police spokesperson Roxanne Vainuku, which means the footage doesn’t have audio. The firing officer activated his body-worn camera just after the shooting, which is when the audio begins — though the camera still captured 30 seconds of silent footage prior to that activation.
In the clip, Halsey appears to draw a gun and raise it toward the officer, who fires once. A cartridge casing can be seen flying as Halsey goes down. It’s unclear if police gave Halsey any commands as the footage at that point is still silent.
Two officers then slowly approach Halsey, who is lying on his left side on the ground in front of the swap meet, located at 1500 W. 3500 South. One of the officers can be seen kicking away a handgun that was sitting on the ground next to the man.
The officers move in. One asks, “Are you hurt?”
The only footage released came from the firing officer, of West Valley City police. Three Taylorsville officers also responded to shooting.
Police initially received a 911 call earlier on Aug. 7 reporting a shooting at a Carl’s Jr. located at 3469 S. Redwood Road. When officers arrived, they found a 41-year-old man with a graze wound.
The victim, who was treated at the scene for minor injuries, told police that he and a woman were sitting outside the restaurant eating when he saw Halsey riding by on a bicycle. The victim said he invited Halsey to join him and gave him a hamburger. Halsey said he wanted to sell a Bluetooth speaker, and when the victim expressed interest, Halsey pulled out a gun and fired it at his head.
The victim told police he took out three $20 bills, dropped them on the ground and then went inside the restaurant to ask for help. Halsey rode away on his bicycle.
A witness who confirmed the victim’s account later discovered a bullet had struck the tailgate of his truck.
Searching for the shooter, police found a man who matched his description — later identified as Halsey — outside the swap meet. According to West Valley City police, Halsey was holding a gun, and “following a confrontation,” the officer shot Halsey, who dropped the weapon. The handgun was recovered at the scene.
Halsey has been charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; felony discharge of a firearm with injury, a second-degree felony; and possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition after he was shot.
After he was released from the hospital, Halsey was booked into the Salt Lake County jail, where he is being held without bail.
The police shooting remains under investigation. It marked the 11th police shooting in Utah so far this year, according to a database maintained by The Salt Lake Tribune.
