WEST JORDAN, Utah — A man is dead and nine police officers are on administrative leave after a standoff with a SWAT team and negotiators Tuesday night in West Jordan.
West Jordan Police Deputy Chief Jeremy Robertson said officers were called to reports of a suspect threatening other people inside a home near 1900 W. 7265 South. They believed the suspect was possibly armed, so SWAT was called in.
Police were able to get everyone else out of the house and began negotiating with the suspect, who was identified on Wednesday as 26-year-old Elhelbawy Adam Idrees.
FOX 13 News reported in 2018 that he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for a non-fatal shooting. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of felony discharge of a firearm. He was sentenced to 3-15 years in prison. Then in 2021, he was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, pleaded guilty, and was given 1-15 years. It was not immediately clear how long he had been out of jail or prison when Tuesday's incident occurred.
Robertson said around 6:45 p.m. that they had "consistent" communication with him. Later, police could be heard on a loudspeaker ordering Idrees to exit the house unarmed with his hands up.
Around 10:00 p.m., police said the SWAT team had been granted a search warrant to enter the home, which led to shots being fired. Police also announced the suspect was dead, but didn't specify whether he was shot by police.
NORTHERN UTAH
‘Watch out for each other’: West Jordan neighbors react to fatal police standoff
A total of nine officers fired shots. Eight of the officers were with the West Jordan Police Department, while another, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper, also fired their weapon. The trooper was working as part of the West Jordan SWAT team at the time. All nine are on administrative leave, which is the procedure following an officer-involved shooting.
The Unified Police Department is taking over the investigation into the incident.
Around 5 p.m., the West Jordan Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order for everyone within three blocks in any direction of 1900 West and 7300 South.
Residents were told to stay inside, lock their doors and windows, and stay away from "exterior openings."
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Resources for domestic violence victims/prevention (free, 24/7, confidential):
Utah Domestic Violence Coalition
- Hotline: 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- Online help: udvc.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
- 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Online live chat: thehotline.org
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.
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For those struggling with thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can now be reached by simply dialing 988 any time for free support. Resources are also available online at utahsuicideprevention.org.
