A confrontation in Murray escalated on Thursday when a man barricaded himself in an apartment during a court-ordered eviction and later was shot in the hand by police after attempting to use flames against officers, according to several local news outlets. The incident took place in the 100 Block of West Fireclay Avenue around noon, as reported by ABC4. Officers were assisting constables in the eviction process when the man refused to leave his apartment bedroom, prompting an evacuation of the surrounding premises. The fire department was subsequently notified.
During the encounter, the man allegedly wielded an aerosol spray and lighter and aimed to ignite the bedroom, authorities believed he was trying to set the room on fire while he was using the makeshift flame-thrower on the officers, as obtained by KSLTV. Following the deployment of pepper balls through a broken window to coerce compliance, the suspect purportedly attacked officers with a weapon, which led to the discharge of a service weapon by an officer, striking the individual's hand.
Murray police took the injured man into custody after he surrendered. He was treated at a local hospital for a hand injury described as minor. KSL added that while the name of the suspect was not disclosed, the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave as protocol dictates, pending an investigation led by the Salt Lake City OICI Protocol team.
