SALT LAKE CITY -- A man was taken to a hospital in critical condition Sunday after he was shot by police following a short foot pursuit, and video obtained by FOX 13 News appears to show officers firing several times at the man, who had come to a stop in front of a residence.
The incident was in the area of 1376 Major Street, and FOX 13 News first heard report of the incident involving Salt Lake City PD shortly after 4 p.m.
Sgt. Robin Heiden of the Salt Lake City Police Department said things began when officers made a pedestrian stop on the man in the area of 1340 Main Street just before 4 p.m.
"It's just a pedestrian stop," she said, when asked why the officers stopped the man. "In fact, we do those everywhere. We stop and talk to people all the time."
For whatever reason, the man reportedly took off, and Sgt. Heiden said police followed.
She said the foot pursuit lasted about a half a block.
"At the termination of the foot chase, that's when the shots were fired," she said.
That happened in the area of 1376 Major Street. An adult male was struck by gunfire and was transported to a hospital in critical condition. No officers were injured.
It was not clear what caused the incident to escalate to gunfire. Heiden said few details are currently available, and the incident is under investigation.
However, she said she anticipated more information being available Monday morning.
All officer-involved shootings in Utah are investigated by independent agencies, and Heiden said West Valley City PD as well as the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will be investigating this case. Heiden said two officers involved in the incident will be placed on paid leave, as is standard procedure during such investigations.
Video sent by witness, courtesy Brandy Haze, appears to show an adult falling to the ground after the sounds of several gun shots are heard. Blurred footage from that video is available in the embedded player above.
