WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Newly released body camera footage shows West Valley City police officers fatally shooting a man who was in the act of stabbing his parents to death, FOX 13 reported.
The video was released on Jan. 20 in compliance with state law, against the wishes of department leaders who said the video was violent and gruesome, according to the report.
The Jan. 1 incident began when officers were dispatched after a 911 call during which the couple’s son could be heard in the background, according to the report. Upon arrival, officers stood outside briefly before descending the stairs to find the man actively stabbing one of his parents.
Officers repeatedly instructed the man to drop his knife, the video shows. The man continued to stab the victim, prompting officers to fire shots at him.
“I see a tragedy — a very tragic incident that happened with the parties involved and the officers involved as well,” said West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs.
She acknowledged prior visits by officers to the Bertelsen home but did not disclose further details, according to the report.
The Salt Lake City Police Department is leading the investigation into the incident, with a review also being conducted by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure, pending the outcome of the investigation.
