Dramatic Utah Police Pursuit Culminates in Officer-Involved Shooting on I-15

A high-stakes police pursuit unfolded across Utah’s Wasatch Front on Tuesday, culminating in an officer-involved shooting on Interstate 15. The intense confrontation left suspect Joshua Buckley, 37, in critical but stable condition after he allegedly brandished a firearm at law enforcement officers.

The dramatic sequence of events began early Tuesday morning when officers were alerted to Buckley, who was wanted in connection with an attempted aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault incident in Centerville.

Upon locating him, Buckley refused to comply with commands and instead fled, initiating a multi-agency chase.

Police departments from Centerville and Bountiful, alongside the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), joined forces in the pursuit. The chase surged onto the bustling lanes of I-15. Recognizing the escalating danger posed by the fleeing suspect, a UHP trooper executed a decisive Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver on Buckley's vehicle near 2600 South I-15 in the North Salt Lake/Bountiful area.

The maneuver successfully spun the suspect's vehicle to a stop.

However, the situation quickly intensified when Buckley reportedly pointed a firearm directly at the officers. In a swift response to the immediate threat, two officers—one from the Centerville Police Department and another from the Bountiful Police Department—discharged their weapons.

Buckley was struck during the gunfire.

Emergency medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, providing aid before transporting him to an area hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident.

Following the shooting, the southbound lanes of I-15 were closed for several hours as investigators meticulously processed the scene.

In adherence to standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, the Salt Lake City Police Department has been assigned to lead the independent investigation into the incident, ensuring a thorough and unbiased review. Authorities confirmed that body camera footage of the incident exists and will be a crucial part of the ongoing investigation.