West Valley City officers responded to a theft at a cell phone business. Later, an officer spotted a man matching the suspect description and approached him. He fled on foot with officers pursuing. The suspect allegedly broke into a home. After a confrontation with the owners, he fled the first home. He then broke into a second home with three children inside. Officers went inside the home, and Elijah Smith was shot and killed.
Victim's Name: Elijah James Smith
Agency Responsible: West Valley Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 20
Race: Black
Date of Death: April 8, 2018
County: Salt Lake
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Unclear
Weapon: undetermined
Threat Level: other
Fleeing: Foot
Body Camera: Yes
Washington Post Database ID: 3595
Geography: Suburban