Gill: Officers justified in use of force in 2023 Taylorsville shooting

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill ruled that the officers involved in the shooting of a Taylorsville man in March 2023 were justified in their use of force.

On the night of the shooting, police were called to Taylorsville residence for a man who was suffering from a “mental episode” and was suicidal. When they arrived, they found the man lying in a bedroom closet under a bedding sheet.

Gill showed bodycam footage showing the moment police tried to make contact with the man. Officers can be heard calling out to the man saying, “We’re here to help you” and “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

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The footage showed police using a broomstick to lift the bedsheet off of the man who then grabbed a large fixed-blade Bowie knife and moved toward the officers. The officers then opened fire on the man. Police called for the man to drop the knife but he moved to get up, the knife still in hand leading to more shots being fired.

The man survived the shooting and Gill said he is now getting the help he needs.

“This demonstrates how dynamic and fluid a situation is and how quickly things can change,” said Gill, who said it also highlights a critical need to help veterans with ongoing mental health challenges such as stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Gill said that at the time of the shooting, the man had been experiencing a mental episode. Days after the shooting, the man told investigators he had no recollection of police being in the home or trying to help him.

“His perception was that there was somebody attacking him. His perception was that he was fighting someone off who had attacked him,” said Gill. “His wounds were self-inflicted but from his perception, they were from a third party. He had no recollection of police being in the home with him. He thought police had shot him when he left the home.”

Gill confirmed the man was only charged with destruction of property and did not face any charges related to assaulting police officers. The use of force by police was also deemed justified and no charges will be filed against the officers who fired upon the man.

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