3 officers ‘justified’ in shooting, killing fugitive who broke into Salt Lake home
Mar 29, 2024, 1:18 PM | Updated: Apr 1, 2024, 2:09 pm
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill speaks during a press conference at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office building in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 18, 2022 (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Three Salt Lake police officers were legally justified when they shot and killed an armed fugitive who broke into a random house while trying to avoid being arrested, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
On Jan. 13, 2023, just before 3 a.m., the Salt Lake police gang unit found a vehicle in an alley near 1300 W. Arapahoe Ave. (660 South) believed to be connected to two men who both had felony warrants for their arrests. One of those men, Penisimani Manupuna Halai, 41, was wanted for aggravated robbery and was known to carry weapons, according to police.
As officers attempted to get the men out of the vehicle at gunpoint, the driver — Halai — put the car in reverse, hitting a parked car and driving through a fence and yard in front of him to get away.
Two police vehicles are hit as a short chase ensued. The pursuit ended when police spiked the car’s tires and Halai crashed into a parked car near 500 N. Star Crest Drive (1840 West). Halai got out of the car and ran while the passenger remained in the vehicle.
