A Layton man was shot by police after pointing a gun at two officers Sunday afternoon and refusing several orders to drop the weapon, police say.
Scott Goodfellow, 28, Layton, was shot three times about 2 p.m. when he pointed a .45-caliber revolver at the Layton officers, who both opened fire on him.Layton police refused to release the names of the two officers involved in the shooting until an investigation by the Davis County Sheriff's Office and the Davis County Attorney's Office is complete, said Sgt. Steve Brown. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Brown said the investigation will likely by completed Monday afternoon or Tuesday.
Layton Chief Doyle Talbot declined to comment Monday morning.
The shooting occurred after Cheree Goodfellow contacted police saying her estranged husband, Scott Goodfellow, had called and was on his way over to her house, Brown said. There is a protective order in effect barring Scott Goodfellow from the residence.
Two police officers were already at the house, 2135 N. Church St., when Scott Goodfellow arrived, Brown said.
"He exited his vehicle and pointed a gun at the police officers," Brown said. "They ordered him to drop the gun numerous times."
When Scott Goodfellow refused to drop his gun, the officers fired seven times, striking him three times in the left shoulder, the right side of the abdomen and the right hip.
Scott Goodfellow never fired his gun, Brown said. He was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, where he was treated and discharged.
Later Sunday night, Goodfellow was booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault, violation of a protective order and domestic violence, Brown said.
A Critical Incident Investigation team will determine whether the officers used appropriate force during the incident.
Officers are taught to follow state law when using deadly force, Brown said.
"Every circumstance is different," Brown said. However, "We are authorized to use deadly force when protecting ourselves or another party."
The purpose of using deadly force is not to disable or to kill the suspect, but to "stop the threat." That's why most agencies teach to shoot "center mass," which is toward the center of the body.
However, since shooting "center mass" means shooting in the general chest area, suspects are likely to die if an officer hits his target accurately, said Lt. Rich Wilder, bureau chief over basic training at the Utah Peace Officers Standards and Training Academy.
That's why "it's really (the officers') discretion when they pull a weapon and when they fire," Wilder said.
The law allows officers to use deadly force whenever they have reason to believe a threat of bodily injury or death exits, Wilder said.
"We do not encourage anyone shooting to wound, we shoot to stop," he said. "If it takes shooting them six times to stop their action, then so be it."
In this instance, Goodfellow refused to put the gun down after officers ordered him to do so and the officers fired their weapons seven times.
"The threat ceased after those seven shots so there were no more rounds fired," Brown said. "One is taught to shoot until the threat ceases."