West Bank officers shoot and kill a man suspected of breaking into cars

A man who a caller described as “behaving suspiciously” was shot dead by West Jordan Police early Saturday morning.

Deputy Chief Richard Bell of the West Jordan Police Department said the department received a call around 1 a.m. Saturday about a man who may have broken into cars at an apartment complex near 8600 South and Bangerter Highway.

Officers found the man, and during that interaction “the man produced a firearm and gunfire was exchanged between the two officers at the scene and the suspect,” Bell said.

The police shot the man. Although the two officers provided assistance, which was continued by medical personnel upon their arrival, the man succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene, Bell said. No further details about the man were released until family members were notified.

One of the officers was shot in the leg and taken to a hospital, Bell said. This officer has since been released and is recovering at home.

A multijurisdictional team led by West Valley City will investigate the shooting, Bell said. The two officers involved in the shooting are on furlough as per guidelines, he said.

Saturday’s shooting was the ninth police shooting in Utah this year, according to a database maintained by The Salt Lake Tribune. In the eighth shooting, West Valley City police shot and killed a man suspected of DUI.