Salt Lake County prosecutors have decided not to file criminal charges against a Salt Lake City police officer who fired at a fleeing vehicle during a December traffic incident, closing the book on a high-profile officer-involved shooting from Dec. 13, 2025.
Investigators say the officer fired a single round toward a white four-door sedan after gunfire came from inside the car. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office concluded the officer reasonably believed deadly force was necessary, which kept the case from moving into criminal court.
What The DA Concluded
According to the ABC4 review of the DA’s report, investigators found that a rear passenger in the fleeing sedan fired multiple handgun rounds from the vehicle. Prosecutors say six spent 9mm casings were recovered at the scene, and forensic analysis indicates one casing was fired by the officer while five were likely fired by the suspect.
That breakdown of shell casings became a key point in the DA’s decision, reinforcing the conclusion that the officer was responding to gunfire rather than initiating it.
Evidence From The Scene
In its written findings, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office notes that body-worn camera footage from Officers Barnett and Hargrave starts only after the shooting was already over. Both Hargrave and a 911-caller reported that some of the shots appeared to be aimed at a crowd.
Investigators reported finding bullet defects and fragments on a witness’s vehicle. The report quotes Officer Barnett saying, “I thought I was hitting the guy with the gun, but I have no idea. It would've went through glass.”
Prosecutors ultimately said those details helped support their decision not to pursue charges against the officer.
Legal Takeaway
Prosecutors said their review turned on whether the evidence could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer’s actions were reckless rather than justified, a high bar under Utah law.
The Salt Lake Tribune has previously reported on the statutory and practical hurdles that make criminal prosecution of police uses of force uncommon in the county, and this case followed that familiar pattern.
The DA’s finding also notes the suspect vehicle fled west onto 300 South and has not been located by investigators. No arrests have been announced. The county’s report and ABC4’s coverage include the DA’s analysis and supporting exhibits for readers who want to dig into the details.
