TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — A suspect was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon following a dramatic high-speed pursuit, a standoff, and gunfire in Taylorsville, Utah. The incident began when multiple 911 calls reported shots fired near a school in South Salt Lake, prompting a response from the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP).
According to UHP officials, the pursuit began when a trooper spotted the suspect vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. The trooper initiated the chase but soon called it off, citing dangerous driving conditions and prioritizing public safety. UHP Major Jeff Nigbur explained that the department follows a strict policy of terminating pursuits when the risk to public safety outweighs the benefits of apprehending a suspect.
“We have a standing policy that we don’t chase off the freeway. When we get involved in pursuits, there are typically higher rates of speed involved, and we have to balance that safety out,” Nigbur said in a statement.
Despite the pursuit being called off, authorities continued tracking the suspect’s vehicle. The registered owner of the car was identified as Carson Thain Moffett. Using the vehicle registration, UHP located Moffett’s home in a Taylorsville neighborhood, where the situation took a dangerous turn.
Garrett Nunnelley, a Taylorsville resident, was at home when he first noticed the heavy police presence outside his house. He and his brother were looking out their window when they suddenly heard gunfire coming from a nearby home.
“We were just kind of wondering what was going on, and then we hear a gunshot—boom,” Nunnelley recalled.
Police said multiple shots were fired by Moffett from inside the home, but law enforcement did not return fire. Officers from the Taylorsville Police Department responded to assist UHP, and a standoff ensued. As the suspect attempted to flee, a Taylorsville police officer crashed his patrol car into Moffett’s vehicle to prevent his escape. Both the suspect and the officer suffered injuries from the crash, though no fatalities or injuries were reported from the gunfire.
A probable cause statement released by authorities revealed that Moffett eventually drove out of the house, at which point the crash occurred. Despite the tense situation, officials confirmed no one was injured as a result of the gunfire.
“This looks like something you see on the internet, not something that I see in my front yard,” Nunnelley said, expressing his disbelief at the unfolding events.
Moffett, who was taken into custody following the crash, now faces multiple felony charges, including reckless endangerment, assault, and firearm violations. Due to his criminal history, he was not legally allowed to possess a firearm, and UHP officials indicated they would pursue additional federal charges related to the firearm possession.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face during high-speed pursuits and standoffs, and the balancing act they must navigate between apprehending suspects and protecting public safety.