SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has ruled two officers with the Metro Gang Unit were justified in their use of deadly force against a wanted felon last October.
The fatal shooting occurred in Salt Lake City on the night of October 18.
Officers located 23-year-old Andrey Tkachenko near 400 East and 300 South, where they chased two vehicles into a nearby alley and became involved in a confrontation.
Officers blocked the exit of the parking lot near the Peter Pan Apartments with their vehicles. When they approached Tkachenko, who was behind the wheel of a black Nissan Altima, he began to rev the engine and then sped toward the officers.
“Both detectives’ knees were grazed by Mr. Tkachenko’s car,” said Salt Lake District Attorney Sim Gill. “As he sped up towards them the detectives stopped firing when they realized they were no longer in danger.”
Gill said Tkachenko raised both of his hands and then began to lower one hand to his waistband, officers then broke through the driver’s side window to stop his movement and pulled him out of the car. A handgun was found in Tkachenko’s waistband.
Tkachenko suffered a gunshot wound during the confrontation and died on the way to the hospital.
The officers who were involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, per standard protocol. The West Valley City Police Department conducted an investigation of the incident.
