By Suzie Ziegler
SALT LAKE CITY — Bodycam video released Friday by Salt Lake City Police shows the moments surrounding a fatal officer-involved shooting. Video shows the suspect appeared to take another man hostage while holding a knife to his throat.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the July 25 incident began after two men were kicked out of a grocery store. The 911 caller said the men appeared to be drunk and couldn’t walk straight, according to a recording.
The video shows 34-year-old Andrew Preece and another man walking slowly along a sidewalk outside the grocery store. Preece has one hand on the shoulder of a second man, who is walking in front of him. Preece has a long knife in his other hand.
Officers approach Preece and command him repeatedly to drop the knife.
One officer threatened to use a TASER on the suspect. That’s when Preece pulls the other man close and holds the knife to his throat.
“He’s got a hostage,” the first officer says.
Preece begins to walk backwards, appearing to pull the other man with him.
The second officer then fires a shot at Preece, but he continues to hold the other man. Both officers next fire several rounds at Preece until he falls to the ground.
Officers began administering first aid but Preece was declared dead at the scene a few minutes later, according to the Tribune.