Body camera videos show a barrage of gunfire in fatal police shooting

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police on Friday released body camera footage of a fatal police shooting involving an arson suspect who led officers from several jurisdictions on a valley-wide chase that ended in a shootout.

Starting about 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 2 and ending about 12:30 a.m. on Jan 3, Tanner Merril Cottrell, 27, led police on a chase from North Salt Lake to Riverton.

Portions of six body camera videos from Salt Lake police officers who responded to the scene were released on Friday. The videos, ranging in length from just 13 seconds to over 17 minutes, mostly show officers in their patrol cars monitoring the chase while en route to assist. The videos end with the officers getting out of their patrol cars followed a very short time later by numerous shots being fired.

“Hold your fire. We’ve got officers on the way,” an officer can be heard yelling in one video.

Cottrell was wanted for starting a fire at 2665 E. 2100 South on Jan. 1, according to police.

“During the investigation, the Salt Lake City Police Department learned the suspect was likely in possession of body armor and firearms,” police announced. “Information about the suspect’s location was shared with law enforcement throughout Utah and Salt Lake counties.”

After police spotted Cottrell on Jan. 2, he fled in a stolen Ford F-350.

“During the pursuit, Cottrell fired multiple rounds at pursuing law enforcement,” Salt Lake police said. “In response, several law enforcement agencies dispatched their armored tactical vehicles.”

In one video, officers can be heard on a police radio updating everyone during the pursuit and giving instructions.

“He’s lost two tires. If you hit him from behind, he’ll probably lose control,” the officer says.

The chase ended when the truck crashed at 12400 S. Redwood Road. At that point, police say there was some kind of confrontation and Cottrell was shot and killed by officers from multiple agencies. Salt Lake police, Taylorsville police, Unified police, Utah County sheriff’s deputies, the Utah Highway Patrol and West Valley police were all involved in the incident.

Cottrell was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The West Jordan Police Department is conducting an independent investigation into the police shooting. At the conclusion, the investigation will be turned over to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide if officers were legally justified in killing Cottrell.

Read the full story at KSL.com

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