A Utah police officer shot dead while he was trying to arrest a fugitive, officials said

A Utah police officer was shot dead while he was trying to apprehend a "dangerous fugitive" on Saturday night, officials said.

Rich Ferguson told reporters at a press conference Sunday afternoon.

Around 10 pm, officers were informed of the whereabouts of a fugitive. Shinners was shot dead while they were trying to arrest the suspect near a Bed Bath & Beyond in Orem, about 60 km south of Salt Lake City.

29-year-old officer Joseph Shinners was killed in the line of duty Saturday night in Utah, officials said. He was a veteran of three years of strength.
(Provo Police Department)

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The investigators stated that it appeared that Shinners could have retaliated and hit the suspect – a 40-year-old man, probably homeless, who had recently made threats of violence against police officers – at least once. The police did not name the suspect.

Shinners was rushed to hospital where he died shortly before midnight, officials said. According to the police, the suspect was still under surveillance in a hospital in a stable state.

Shinners was a three-year veteran of the Provo police assigned to the patrol division of the department.

"Joe Shinners was smart, he was honorable, he worked hard, he was decent in all areas and he embodied the nobility of maintaining order," said Ferguson. "He was the best in the department Provo Police Department "

Ferguson stated that he had posthumously promoted Shinners to the rank of master officer.The officer left a wife and a young son.