TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Two police officers were hospitalized after a fatal overnight shootout with a suspect in Taylorsville.
The incident happened at a 7-Eleven at 4100 South and Redwood Road on the border of West Valley City around 10:00 p.m.
During the confrontation, the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Anei Gabriel Joker, was holding a 9-month-old baby while sitting in a vehicle. After initially refusing to release the child, Joker gave up the infant following negotiations with law enforcement officials.
Once he released the baby, Joker began firing at officers, striking two with gunfire. Joker was hit with returning gunfire from as many as 10 officers, and transported to the hospital where he later died.
One of the officers shot is a 5-year veteran detective of the West Valley City Police Department and was originally in critical condition, but is now resting comfortably at the hospital and is expected to recover quickly.
“I was very relieved to see that he was talking to see that he was joking, and it was a great to know that he was going to be okay,” said West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs. "He took two rounds, he was shot in the left shoulder and in the left leg. He has undergone surgery and I have every confidence in this officer's ability and will to recover completely.”
A Unified Police officer was also taken to the hospital and released Thursday morning.
FOX 13s Eliana Sheriff spoke with neighbors who shared what they witnessed during the deadly shootout
Officials said the infant was not injured during the confrontation with Joker. It's not known what relation the child was to the suspect.
Jacobs said her department was part of an multi-agency operation looking for various suspects, including Joker, who was wanted in connection to charges of rape and robbery.
Records show Joker has a long criminal background.
According to the officer-involved critical incident protocol, the shooting is now being investigated by an outside agency.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and did not speak with police at the scene is asked to call 801-840-4000.
