SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A Salt Lake City Police officer shot a juvenile male on the city's west side Friday night, leaving him in serious condition, says Sgt. Keith Horrocks.
UPDATE (Sunday, Sept. 6) — The juvenile who was shot by a Salt Lake City Police Officer on Friday night has since been identified as 13-year-old Linden Cameron. Cameron was seriously injured but is expected to survive.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall released the following statement:
While the full details of this incident are yet to be released as an investigation takes place, I will say that I am thankful this young boy is alive and no one else was injured. No matter the circumstances, what happened on Friday night is a tragedy and I expect this investigation to be handled swiftly and transparently for the sake of everyone involved."
(ORIGINAL REPORT CONTINUES) — The shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. in the area of 500 S. Navajo Street in the Glendale neighborhood.
Horrocks said police were called to the area for a report of a "violent psych issue" involving the juvenile "having a mental episode" and "making threats to some folks with a weapon."
The juvenile subject, whose age was not specified during a press briefing early Saturday morning, ran away from officers and was pursued.
"During a short foot pursuit, an officer discharged his firearm and hit the subject," Horrocks said.
The injured juvenile was given medical aid until paramedics arrived and took him to a local hospital.
Horrocks did not say whether a weapon was located. He said he knew of no indication that there was a weapon found but didn't know for sure.
Preliminary information is that only one officer fired their weapon, and there are not believed to be any other people involved in the shooting.
According to police policy, the shooting will be investigated by an Officer-Involved Critical Incident protocol team, which was already on scene Saturday morning. Horrocks said residents in the area could expect some roads to be shut down for several hours.
Horrocks said he anticipates the department will be able to provide a more detailed walkthrough of what happened within 10 business days, which would be Sept. 18.
Anyone in the area who witnessed the shooting or may have security camera footage or other relevant video to share with investigators is asked to contact SLCPD at 801-799-3000.