TAYLORSVILLE, Utah -- Two police officers are recovering after being wounded in a standoff at a 7-Eleven Wednesday night that left the suspect dead.
A West Valley City police officer was critical condition while an officer with the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake was seriously wounded in the incident that began around 9 p.m. when officers working an operation spotted 20-year-old Anei Joker parked in a parking lot at 4110 S. Redwood Road, according to KSL-TV.
When Joker initially pulled into the convenience store parking lot, there were two other adults and an infant in his vehicle with him. At some point, the two other adults got out of the vehicle. When the officers discovered that a baby was also in the car, their tactics changed drastically. After negotiating with the man for about an hour, a team of officers was allowed to approach the vehicle and bring the baby to safety.Joker refused to exit the vehicle and at some point exited the vehicle and fired upon the officers. During the final confrontation, a barrage of shots were fired and Joker struck two officers and was hit himself in the shootout. Joker arrived at a local hospital at 10:49 p.m. and was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.
The wounded West Valley City police officer underwent surgery after being shot twice and was "stable." The Unified police officer, who has been with the department for nine years, was treated at a hospital and was later released.
West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs was able to visit her officer in the hospital. "I was very relieved to see that he was talking and he was joking, and it was a great relief to know that he was going to be OK," she said. "I have every confidence in this officer's ability and will to recover from this."
