(UPDATED -- See below)
22-year old Darrien Hunt was seen carrying a sword in Saratoga Springs, Utah, generating calls to the police by people who witnessed him. Two police officers then approached Hunt once he got next to the Walmart parking lot, and Hunt asked for a ride to the town of Orem.
An officer agreed, but told him to hand over the sword. Hunt then allegedly became upset and unsheathed the sword. When the officer pulled his gun, Hunt then ran into the edge of the Walmart parking lot, at which point the two officers shot him six times, killing him.
The officers claimed they shot him in the back to protect people in the Walmart parking lot from Hunt.
The katana-style sword turned out to be an unsharpened fake.
From an article:
The incident began on the morning of Sept. 10, when Cpl. Matt Schauerhamer responded to emergency calls about a man with a sword. He found Hunt, who said he needed a ride to Orem, according to the affidavit. Schauerhamer offered him a ride if Hunt would put down his sword; Hunt refused to, the affidavit says.Walmart. Save money. Die faster.
“After Corporal Schauerhamer told Mr. Hunt he couldn’t have the sword with him while riding in the back of his police car, Mr. Hunt pulled out the sword and moved toward the Corporal Schauerhamer swinging it,” the affidavit says. “Corporal Schauerhamer drew his firearm and started firing at Mr. Hunt.”
Two witnesses nearby also reported seeing a man swing his sword toward an officer before hearing gunfire. One witness said he heard a "bunch of shots,” before Hunt ran, the officers pursued him and three more shots rang out.
“Corporal Schauerhamer knew he had to stop Mr. Hunt before he was able to hurt or kill someone,” the affidavit reads. “Corporal Schauerhamer said he knew he needed to stop Mr. Hunt before Mr. Hunt could make it to the parking lot of Wal-Mart. Corporal Schauerhamer fired 3 shots at Mr. Hunt on the north side of Panda Express. Mr. Hunt dropped the sword sheath and fell to the ground. The sword came out of Mr. Hunt’s right hand and slid along the ground several feet from where Mr. Hunt fell.”
Darrien Hunt’s family’s attorney, Bob Sykes, said there is no evidence that Hunt was close to any potential victims or that he posed a threat to those at Walmart.
“Certainly the officers were not in danger… The two of them, they’re armed, they’ve already fired shots, they’ve hit him. So they’re not in immediate danger,” Sykes said. “What about the public? There’s no indication that the public was in immediate danger. Therefore, this deadly force was improper.”
Sykes said Schauerhamer and Officer Nick Judson chased Hunt, and Schauerhamer a fatal shot that they didn't need to shoot.
UPDATE (12/6/14): According to an article, Darrien Hunt was shot six times in the back by the officers. No charges are being brought against the officers.
