Sandy MaloneSalt Lake City, UT – More protests erupted in Salt Lake City after authorities released bodycam video of the officer-involved shooting of a 22-year-old man armed with a gun (video below).
Salt Lake Police Captain Richard Lewis said the incident occurred at about 2:10 a.m. on May 23 when police responded to area of the Utah Village Motel for a report of a man making “threats with a weapon” in the parking lot of the Trails Gentleman’s Club, which is adjacent to the motel, KSL reported.
“The victim went toward the dumpsters on the east side of the parking lot… when he was approached by two males whom he had seen inside the club earlier on in the night,” according to the police watch log from that night.
“Both males had guns and told the victim to empty out his pockets. Once they took his money and wallet, the victim fled the scene,” the watch log said.
When officers arrived on the scene, they spotted 22-year-old Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal in the parking lot between the motel and the Trails Gentleman’s Club.
Bodycam video showed that Palacios-Carbajal took off running when police arrived, and the officers pursued him on foot through an alley.
“He’s got a gun in his pocket. He’s reaching in his right (inaudible)…” one of the officers called out in the video as the officers ran after him with their weapons drawn.
Capt. Lewis said officers yelled at Palacios-Carbajal 17 times to either “stop,” “show me your hands,” or “drop it,” KSL reported.
The video showed the officers caught up with the armed suspect when he tripped and fell in the parking lot of Granary Storage.
He got up again and took off but quickly tripped and fell again.
In the video, Palacios-Carbajal appeared to reach for and pick up something he had dropped as he got back up from the wet pavement.
“Drop it, drop it, drop it!” one of the officers ordered the suspect, who ignored him started to run away again.
That’s when the officers opened fire on Palacios-Carbajal in the video, shooting him over the course of nine seconds.
“Show me your f–king hands!” one officer yelled after the shooting ended.
Officers found a gun nearby where Palacios-Carbajal fell, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The victim of the armed robbery in the parking lot told the Deseret News that Palacios-Carbajal was one of the men who had robbed him in the parking lot.
Palacios-Carbajal was on probation when he was shot, KSL reported.
He was convicted of second-degree armed robbery in August of 2019 for holding a gun to a man’s head during a robbery.
The conviction called for one-to-15 years in prison, but Palacios-Carbajal only served 30 days before he was released on probation, KSL reported.
Both officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending investigation as is protocol for all officer-involved shootings.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown released a statement on Friday that said he stood with his officers, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
“I trust our training,” Chief Brown said. “I trust in the investigative process we have in place to address officer-involved critical incidents. Most importantly, I trust our officers.”
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Utah Governor Gary Herbert asked for a swift investigation of the shooting, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
“Due process is expected,” the governor tweeted. “Until all the facts are in we will not comment substantively on this ongoing investigation. We will, however, always decry disproportionate use of force. If there are findings of misconduct, we expect full accountability.”
Palacios-Carbajal’s family has said they want “accountability” for their loved one’s death, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
“They didn’t have to kill him,” his sister, Elsa Karina Palacios, said. “They didn’t have to shoot him so many times. He was running. He was scared. He would still be here.”
Watch the incident unfold below. WARNING – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
Holly Matkin
