Suspect in South Jordan shooting that sent officer to hospital identified
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (KUTV) — The man who allegedly sent a South Jordan police officer to the hospital with a gunshot wound has been identified.
Malui Salesi Vehikite, 29, was arrested and faces potential charges of aggravated murder, among several others.
The officer-involved incident happened on Friday, Nov. 26.
According to the arresting documents for Vehikite, police arrived at a residence in the area of 10400 S. 1800 West in South Jordan. They were searching for Vehikite, "who is a suspect in an active stolen vehicle case and has multiple felony warrants for his arrest."
The residents of the home allowed officers to enter. Police then located Vehikite in the basement bedroom.
One of the officers at the scene heard Vehikite yell "don't" or "no" before seeing him back up into a hallway with a gun pointed at another officer.
The probable cause statement said the gun was fired and one of the officers fell to the floor with a noticeable leg injury. The officer was later treated at the scene and then taken to a hospital to undergo surgery in stable condition.
The other officer took off after Vehikite when more shots were fired back at the suspect. Vehikite "sustained several gunshot wounds," was treated at the scene and also taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Police later searched the residence and uncovered several allegedly stolen items including multiple credit cards, driver licenses and "a large amount of house, shed, and car keys." Drug paraphernalia and mixed pills were also found.
