Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced Thursday that his office will not file criminal charges against the officers who shot and killed 45-year-old Isaac Jesse Watters. The shooting unfolded on March 22, during a domestic-related call in a Sandy neighborhood near 8800 S. Shady Meadow Drive. Investigators say officers on scene reported that Watters pulled a weapon from his lower leg and charged toward them, at which point they opened fire. Watters was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
DA review clears officers
The District Attorney's Office conducted an officer-involved critical-incident review and concluded the officers acted within the scope of their official duties, according to KUTV. The outlet reports that several Salt Lake City officers fired their weapons during the encounter and that prosecutors ultimately declined to bring criminal charges.
Victim's recent arrest and allegations
A few days before the shooting, Watters had been arrested on allegations that he took prescription medications and drug logs from patients at a Salt Lake County rehabilitation center, according to reporting by Gephardt Daily. That outlet and local records state the suspected missing medications included oxycodone, methadone, tramadol and gabapentin.
How the DA evaluates officer-involved shootings
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office conducts independent officer-involved critical-incident (OICI) reviews that examine officer statements, body-camera video, forensic material and medical records before any charging decision is made, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office. These OICI reviews are the county's mechanism for determining whether an officer's use of force meets the legal threshold for criminal prosecution.
Legal standard under Utah law
Under Utah Code §76-2-404, a peace officer is justified in using deadly force when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury, and, when feasible, a verbal warning should be issued beforehand, per the Utah Code. That statutory "justification" defense is central to how prosecutors assess whether to file charges in officer-involved shootings.
What comes next
The DA's decision not to file charges closes the door on criminal prosecution in this case but does not automatically rule out internal department reviews or separate civil claims. Sandy Police did not immediately issue a public response to the DA's announcement, and it remained unclear whether body-camera footage or additional records would be released, as reported by KUTV.
Public record and memorial
Public notices list Watters' date of death as March 22, 2026, and state that he was 45 years old, according to an online memorial. Legacy.com hosts a memorial page with family and funeral details.
