In Payson, Utah, a confrontation between a police officer and a man led to the latter being shot after he reportedly pulled out a knife during a shoplifting incident.
The incident unfolded when Payson Police were alerted to a shoplifting event at the local Payson Market shortly before 5:40 p.m. on a Saturday.
Upon arrival, two officers spotted the suspect, a man whose identity has yet to be disclosed, making his way south on Main Street. They attempted to engage him by calling out as he walked away.
When the man turned to face the officers, they noticed he was armed with a knife. Despite their commands for him to drop the weapon, he refused, as stated by the authorities.
An attempt to subdue the suspect with a taser proved unsuccessful. This led to a physical altercation between one of the officers and the man. During the scuffle, the officer discharged his firearm, wounding the suspect.
The injured man was promptly taken to Mountain View Hospital in Payson, where he was reported to be conscious and communicative. He was later transferred to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo for further treatment.
Fortunately, no officers were harmed during the incident. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Utah County Critical Incident team.