A Utah police officer has died after he was shot by a suspect who was later killed by police.
Advertisement
When officers responded to what appeared to be a very serious auto accident, a man and a woman, who were in one of the damaged cars, fled on foot, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said Sunday.
The man suspect Corey Lee Henderson shot Barney in the head, killing him, during the pursuit, according to Winder. A short time later Henderson allegedly wounded another responding officer, Jon Richey, and was subsequently killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Henderson had a prior criminal record that included weapons possession and was sought by a gang task force, Winder said. The officer deployed a Taser without any effect, and Snyder fought with officers as they subdued him and took him into custody. When an officer grabbed his wrist, Snyder “immediately pulled away and punched a police officer straight in the face”, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
A second Unified police officer remained hospitalized and was undergoing surgery Sunday afternoon. That officer survived and his condition is improving, Winder said. On behalf of Utah residents from across the state, our hearts are broken for the family of Officer Doug Barney who gave the ultimate sacrifice today while in the line of duty.
Barney was an 18-year law enforcement veteran who served in several agencies.
“Today a husband and father left his wife and three children, put on a badge, and promised to return home soon”. According to a statement of probable cause, a woman identified as Henderson’s mother jumped out of the vehicle and began physically assaulting police officers.
Advertisement
Investigators were still trying to determine what led to the confrontation in Holladay, just south of Salt Lake City, police spokesman Lex Bell told NBC News earlier Sunday. Winder indicated she was cited and released.
