A 32-year-old member of the Utah National Guard was shot and killed by a Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy early Sunday during an incident that may have been fueled in part by anger about his brother's extended military stay in Iraq.
Chad Thompson died on the way to a medical helicopter that was to lift him to a hospital for treatment of a single gunshot wound, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Rosie Rivera said.
A call came in to authorities about a domestic dispute at a house near 2200 West and 13600 South about 1:55 a.m. Sunday. The caller said Thompson was "drunk, irate and en route" to the house where his estranged wife and kids were, Rivera said.
A deputy went to the house and found everything fine. The officer joined a deputy who found Thompson's pickup down the street, unoccupied, and the two officers began looking for him, Rivera said.
Authorities received another call about 2:40 a.m. saying that the man was at the house pointing a gun at the caller, Rivera said.
Thompson fled the house with a loaded shotgun as the deputies approached. Police dogs were brought to the scene, and Thompson was found with the gun in a neighbor's yard, Rivera said.
When Thompson was confronted by deputies, he displayed the shotgun and was shot once, Rivera said.
The deputy who fired and killed Thompson was placed on routine, paid administrative leave while the sheriff's office investigates the incident with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, Rivera said.
"From what we're gathering, just from the family, he was distraught his brother was in Iraq and was distraught his brother wasn't able to come home with the last change ... He had some family problems. He was upset," Rivera said.
Thompson did not have a criminal history with the sheriff's office except for a domestic call in September 2003. Rivera did not know details of that case.
Thompson was a member of the Utah National Guard for 14 years, the last 10 years as a full-time employee at Camp Williams. Last weekend, "he was doing his weekend drill," Utah National Guard Lt. Col. Brad Blackner said.
Thompson was a staff sergeant in supply logistics — helping manage the supply rooms, loading and unloading materials. He was a member of the 140th Regimental Regional Training Institute, Blackner said.
Thompson's brother is a member of the 1457th Engineer Battalion. "They were scheduled to come home the first week of May and they're part of the group that got extended," Blackner said.
The Utah National Guard battalion learned Wednesday its service will be extended possibly 120 days. It was activated in February 2003, sent to Fort Lewis, Wash., and arrived in the Middle East in April of last year, Blackner said.
Thompson's brother may be able to attend the funeral, but such arrangements are handled by the American Red Cross, Blackner said.
"All we can say is we certainly want to pass on our sympathies and condolences to the family," Blackner said. 'We can't comment further than that because it's under investigation with the Salt Lake" County Sheriff's Office.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com