Officers found legally justified in Murray and Taylorsville police shootings

SALT LAKE CITY — Police officers who shot and killed a man armed with a rifle, and officers who shot another man who attempted to run them over in a separate incident were legally justified in using deadly force.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced those conclusions involving two different police shootings on Thursday. In doing so, Gill also became a little emotional as he renewed his call for help for veterans.

“Far too often, we’re failing our veterans. And we need help further upstream than downstream is the reality of where we are,” he said. “You’ve heard me say this, and I’ll keep saying it as long as I have the privilege to say it: We need to do better by our veterans and we need to get them the assistance and help that they need — because this is a loss all the way around.”

Police responded late at night on Oct. 4, 2023, to a Taylorsville home near 3800 West and Ridgecrest Drive on a report of an armed domestic violence incident. Joseph Nicholas Potts, 34, was reported to be intoxicated, suicidal and armed.

Just before officers arrived at the scene, his wife and 3-month-old infant were able to flee the home to a neighbor’s house unharmed.

Potts began firing shots with a rifle inside the house, according to police. Taylorsville police, who originally responded to the call, requested help from the West Valley police SWAT team.

Please read the complete story at KSL.com.

 

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