Curtis Allgier, the man accused of shooting and killing a Utah Department of Corrections guard during an escape attempt, was charged with aggravated murder late Thursday afternoon.
"It is the intent of this office to seek the death penalty," Salt Lake District Attorney Lohra Miller said.
In addition to aggravated murder, Allgier was charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of attempted aggravated murder, disarming a peace officer, aggravated escape, aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
Allgier is accused of killing Sgt. Stephen Anderson Monday morning shortly after Allgier had undergone an MRI examination in the University Orthopaedic Center near the University of Utah campus.
Details released Thursday in court documents state Allgier shot Anderson twice, once in the head and once in the chest.
Allgier said in media interviews Wednesday he did not intend to kill Anderson. Although Miller did not specifically address that claim on Thursday, she noted that for a capital homicide case to be filed, there has to be an intent to kill.
"It's an intentional crime. I'll leave it at that," she said.
As for the rest of Allgier's comments to the media, Miller said she only believed a "portion" of what he had to say but declined to comment further.
Also revealed Thursday were the other aggravating circumstances in the case. Allgier twice attempted to hit and kill a Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy who was standing outside his vehicle on I-15 near 6200 South trying to set up road spikes during the chase that followed the homicide, according to court documents.
When the chase ended at the Arby's restaurant near 1700 South and Redwood Road, Allgier ran inside and attempted to kill an employee and customer Eric Fullerton.
Allgier fired his handgun, "just missing the clerk," according to court documents, before beating the clerk with the pistol. Fullerton then jumped into the struggle to help the employee. During the fight, his throat was cut with a kitchen knife, court documents stated. Miller called Fullerton's decision to engage Allgier "an act of incredible bravery ... This act of bravery should not be minimized or go unnoticed."
Under Utah law, the district attorney's office has 90 days from the time of Allgier's arraignment to file a notice with the state seeking the death penalty. Miller said her office planned to consult with the family about the office's intentions. But she noted that county prosecutors are not waiting for other evidence and that they will file for the death penalty at the appropriate time.
Also charged Thursday was Allgier's friend, Trisha Tower.
Tower told reporters that Allgier had phoned her, saying he had killed an officer and was on the run. Prosecutors allege Tower did more to help his escape, court records say.
Allgier went to Tower's house near 900 West and 400 South after the homicide, where he obtained new clothes, according to court documents. After he put on clean clothes, Tower took Allgier's bloody orange jumpsuit, hid it and then moved it to another location, Miller said. Tower initially denied knowing anything about the jumpsuit, according to court records.
Tower was charged with obstruction of justice and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail early Thursday. Her bail was set at $100,000.
Allgier was being held without bail. His initial court appearance is expected to be Monday or Tuesday.
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