Utah officer killed, 6 others wounded in shootout

Utah officer killed, 6 others wounded in shootout

OGDEN, Utah (AP) - A shooting in Ogden that killed an officer and wounded five other drug task force members and a suspect was sparked when officers tried to search the house where the suspect apparently lives, authorities said Thursday at a news conference.

The suspect, Matthew David Stewart, 37, has a limited criminal history.

Stewart suffered injuries that are not life threatening, though it’s unclear if he was shot. He is in a hospital under guard.

The officer killed, Jared Francom, was with the Ogden Police Department. He had a wife and two young children.

“It’s a very, very sad day for Ogden,” said Ogden Police Chief Wayne Tarwater.

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Utah officer killed, 6 others wounded in shootout

First and foremost, and this is happening all too often in the opening weeks of 2012, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of another officer killed in the line of duty.

To the family and friends Jared Francom, and to his brothers and sisters in Blue, I feel your loss and truly mourn it with you! The Thin Blue Line got a bit thinner last night.

The officers went to the house Wednesday evening intending to search it as part of an drug-related investigation. When there was no answer, they entered and were fired upon.

Not a surprising reaction from the suspect, Matthew David Stewart, he knew he was about to get busted and he waited in ambush.

I am only speculating here, but history does bear out these words; Stewart quite likely felt he had nothing left to lose and had determined that he wasn’t going to be taken to jail, and again, speculation, reasoned that if he attacked the cops, they in turn would return fire and kill him. It happens like that far too many times. Some call it ‘Suicide by Cop’.

The one thing that does amaze me is this; Stewart murdered one officer and shot 5 or 6 others, depending on the accuracy of the AP story.The amazing part? Stewart was taken to a hospital and at last report was listed as having suffered injuries that are not, at least as of the last report, life threatening.

You have one DEAD officer and 5 or 6 others wounded and listed as having injuries that are described as ‘serious to critical’ and the guy that did the shooting is in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

I am guessing that the officers involved in this action returned fire. Did they MISS? A lot? Do they not have weapons that would render DEADLY FORCE when that deadly force is indeed warranted?

Witnesses said they heard three quick pops followed by a two- to three-minute pause, then lots of gunfire.

I don’t know how many officers went into this house, I know that, according to the story, at least 6 or 7 officers were involved. If these guys were carrying a decent handgun, and that was all they were using, 6 or 7 officers should have been able to engage this Stewart person with at least 85 to 90 rounds before they even had to think of changing magazines. 

Possibly, again, depending on the weapons carried and their magazine capacity, the officers could have had well over 100 rounds at their disposal before having to reload. 

My point is this; the suspect, Matthew David Stewart is in the hospital, under guard, with non-life threatening injuries.

I know that cops are NOT supposed to be Judge, Jury and Executioner, but you have one officer dead and 5 or 6 more wounded, you have a suspect that is shooting your officers to pieces, you have an active shooting situation, a HOT area, in progress, and the shooter goes to the hospital? With non-life threatening wounds?

Seriously?

Related Reading:
Five people face charges in connection with Wednesday’ shooting of a narcotics agent.