Two officers, Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, were tragically killed in Utah after responding to multiple 911 hangup calls related to a domestic disturbance. The suspect is in custody.
Two police officers were killed while responding to what was later confirmed to be a domestic violence incident in Tremonton, Utah, on Sunday, August 17. Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, both of the Tremonton-Garland Police Department, were fatally shot during the tragic event.
The incident unfolded after the police received “multiple 911 hangup calls” from a residence in the area. A single officer responded to the scene, speaking with a resident reporting a domestic disturbance. As the officer engaged with the resident, a suspect emerged from the home and shot the officer.
The Tragic Shootings and Response
According to Police Chief Chad Reyes of the Brigham City Police Department, the suspect is believed to be a resident of the house. After the first officer was shot, a second officer arrived at the scene and was immediately fired upon by the same suspect. The officer was struck, but the details of their condition have not been disclosed.
A deputy from the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist and was shot when the suspect fired several rounds into his vehicle, injuring both him and his police service dog. Fortunately, both the deputy and the dog are in stable condition and recovering in the hospital.
Suspect in Custody and Charges Filed
Bystanders were able to convince the suspect to surrender his firearm before he was taken into custody by other responding officers. The suspect, identified in booking records, has been charged with capital aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, and misdemeanor assault.
Governor Spencer Cox of Utah described the events as “a tragic night” for the state. “Today, our hearts are broken. Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada gave their lives in service to their neighbors and community,” he said in a statement. “Abby and I join all Utahns in mourning alongside their families, the Tremonton-Garland Police Department, and every officer who puts on the uniform to protect others.”
