SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Salt Lake County District Attorney has found 15 law enforcement officers were justified in firing nearly 200 shots at a man following a pursuit that was prompted by several robberies and random gunfire.
Harold Vincent Robinson, 37, died in April 2019 in a shooting that happened after his pickup truck crashed into a business.
“It was a massive show of force,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sam Gill said Friday. “But considering the complexity of the situation and the risk that was put to our community, I think those officers under those circumstances acted as professionally as they could.”
The 10 Salt Lake police officers, three Utah Highway Patrol troopers and two other officers were justified in the use of deadly force, Gill found.
Officers fired 196 shots. The medical examiner was unable to determine how many hit Robinson, Gill said.
Robinson fired about 50 shots during an incident that started with the robbery of two convenience stores on the morning of April 8. In downtown Salt Lake, Robinson fired shots at two hotels, the city-county building, at police cars and into the air. No civilians were hurt but one officer suffered a grazing wound from a bullet that ricocheted.
Police found a rifle, a shotgun and a handgun in Robinson’s pickup truck, the Deseret News reported.
Investigators weren’t able to determine a motive for Robinson’s actions, but Gill said the man’s family told them he had seemed mentally unstable for a few months. The family apologized for his actions, Gill said.
“We pray that this tragic event will increase awareness of the damages mental illness and the effects it has on the community and the individuals and family,” the family said in letter to investigators. “With proper evaluation and treatment the event may have been prevented and we would still have our beloved friend and family member.”
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