Police say a store surveillance video clearly shows a man shot and killed by West Valley police Wednesday fired first and shot multiple times at officers.
Police on Thursday released the name of the man killed inside his car in the 7-Eleven parking lot on the corner of 3500 South and 4800 West. Christopher M. Cotton, 22, was pronounced dead Wednesday about 10 a.m. at the scene following the shootout with police. Two officers fired multiple shots at Cotton in the gun battle, said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan.
Cotton's car had been parked for several hours in a handicap spot in front of the store while he was slumped over in the driver's seat, apparently either asleep or passed out, according to police. Officers attempted to make contact with the man to see if he was OK.
The driver was not responsive to officers' questions and then without warning pulled out a gun and opened fire with the officers standing less than 6 feet away, McLachlan said.
One officer was standing to the rear of the driver's door, the other near the rear of the passenger's door, when Cotton started shooting. The officer near the passenger's door fired through the back window while moving around to the side of the car, where he fired again.
The entire incident was caught by the convenience store's security camera.
"It definitely shows (Cotton) fired multiple rounds at our officers first," McLachlan said.
Both officers are on standard paid administrative leave pending both an internal review and investigation by the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office.
The car Cotton was in had California license plates. McLachlan said Cotton did not have a current Utah address and had a warrant out of San Diego for felony burglary. He also was arrested three weeks ago by West Valley police for auto theft and providing false information to officers. Cotton was charged two weeks ago in 3rd District Court for theft in a case out of Murray.
Investigators had found no evidence as of Thursday to show why Cotton was so quick to shoot at officers. A toxicology report to show whether drugs or alcohol were factors was expected to be completed in several weeks.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com