4-Year-Old Boy Opens Fire On Police As Father Was Being Arrested And Ordered Boy To Shoot

Midvale, UT – A four-year-old boy shot at police in a McDonald’s drive-thru on Monday after his father became irate and told him to fire the gun, according to police.

The incident occurred at the McDonald’s restaurant located at 7200 South and 425 West at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, after a father took his two children, ages three and four, to order food in the drive-thru, KSTU reported.

Restaurant employees later told police the man became irate after workers made a mistake with his order, according to KUTV.

They said he brandished a weapon while sitting outside the pick-up window and demanded they fix his order, according to police.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said the McDonald’s workers asked the armed suspect to pull off into a waiting area while they made the correction, then called police and told them a customer had pulled a gun on them, KUTV reported.

Officers responded to the scene and removed the suspect from the vehicle.

But as they were taking him into custody, he allegedly told his four-year-old child to fire the gun, KUTV reported.

Officers said they saw a small hand and arm appear through the window from inside the vehicle as they were struggling with the suspect.

An astute officer was able to push the gun away as the child pulled the trigger, according to investigators.

The bullet hit an overhead awning, but did not directly strike the officer or any bystanders, KUTV reported.

The officer suffered either a burn or graze wound as a result of the shooting, investigators said.

The suspect’s three-year-old was also in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the incident, according to police.

Both children were placed in the custody of other family members, KUTV reported.

The Division of Child and Family Services has launched an investigation into the situation.

The suspect was taken into custody on charges of threatening the use of a dangerous weapon and felony child abuse, KSTU reported.

He was later identified as 27-year-old Sadaat Johnson.

“This is a sad day for us, because the person that pulled that trigger was four years old,” Sheriff Rivera told KUTV. “Just think [about] the gravity of that. A four-year-old was told, we believe by the father, to pull the trigger and shoot a police officer.”

The sheriff said the “campaign against police officers” cannot continue, KSTU reported.

“I’ve never seen anything like his in my 28 years,” she added. “We’re here to protect and serve.”