2 injured in South Ogden shooting where officers were later ‘ambushed,’ police say

SALT LAKE CITY — Two people were injured in a South Ogden shooting Thursday night, just before officers arrived and were ambushed with gunfire, according to South Ogden police.

The man who allegedly fired the shots at neighbors, police and SWAT was identified later as James Joseph Rios, 45.

Somewhere between 50 and 100 law enforcement vehicles were observed on scene near 1325 East and 5800 South. Officers responded at around 10:30 p.m. after callers reported hearing gunshots near the area.

The officers under fire were not hurt and called for additional assistance. At that point, an officer saw a woman running from the area, and several more shots were fired in her direction, according to an affidavit, which didn’t detail what happened to her.

Police from surrounding jurisdictions and the Ogden Metro SWAT teams responded. KSL reporters on scene, along with witnesses nearby, heard the gunfire.

Officers later discovered there were two neighbors, a couple, who had been shot before officers arrived. They were taken to the hospital, police said, but an update on their conditions was not provided.

Rios eventually surrendered to SWAT team members, according to an affidavit. Police found a long rifle inside Rios’ residence and an unspent rifle round located in his pocket at the time he was arrested.

“James admitted to firing multiple rounds from inside his residence toward neighbors who lived across the street,” the affidavit states. “The suspect stated he fired at the neighbors because the neighbor exited their residence after the suspect had warned them to remain inside. The suspect admitted he knew he had shot his neighbors, and watched the male neighbor fall to the ground, and then shot the wife, who was also outside.”

The affidavit detailed that Rios said he believed the couple was aware of people coming and going into his house, but failed to tell him. It noted that the family claimed Rios had been “acting irrational for a period of time, and they were also in fear for their life when he was shooting from inside their house.”

Rios was booked on two possible felony charges of attempted murder.

The investigation was being handled jointly by the South Ogden Police Department and the Weber County Attorney’s critical incident team.

“Our hearts go out to those who were injured and impacted by this incident,” the South Ogden department said in a statement. “We also cannot thank the members of this community enough for their support in helping to resolve this situation together.”