A 43-year-old Taylorsville man was arrested and booked into jail Saturday after police say he attacked his elderly parents, then shot at responding officers while barricaded inside his home.
According to 3rd District Court documents, Benjamin M. Williams Jr.’s parents contacted police about about 2 p.m. Saturday.
Williams’ parents left the house near 5400 South and 3600 West, and police arrived to find he had locked himself inside with multiple firearms, the document states. When the Unified Police Department’s SWAT team was called to assist, police reported Williams shot at officers and the armored SWAT vehicle, though bulletproof glass prevented injuries to the officers inside.
Police said several neighboring homes were also hit by bullets fired by Williams and that his parents had black eyes.
After several hours, Williams, who has a history of felony and misdemeanor convictions, was taken into custody.
Prior convictions include aggravated assault, cruelty toward elderly, as well as drug charges, reckless driving and various serious traffic violations, police interference and possession of a vicious animal, who was not leashed and bit a passerby, according to Utah court documents.
Williams was booked for investigation of murder, assaulting police, felony discharge of a firearm, aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.