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- A man was shot and killed by deputies after officials say he barricaded in West Haven apartment, sheriff reports.
- The man allegedly threatened officers with a knife, prompting deputies to shoot.
- The Weber County Attorney's Office is investigating; deputies involved are on leave.
WEST HAVEN, Weber County — A man was shot and killed by deputy gunfire Sunday after authorities say he barricaded himself and a woman inside an apartment complex and threatened officers with a knife.
According to the Weber County Sheriff's Office, a caller reported a man and woman arguing in an apartment complex near 2265 S. 1100 West. The caller said the couple had been arguing and the man had damaged property.
When deputies arrived, they found the man had barricaded the door of the apartment with the woman inside, according to the sheriff's office. The deputies attempted to speak with him through the door. At one point, they heard a disturbance from inside and breached the door.
"Concerned for the safety of the female, deputies forced entry into the apartment," the sheriff's office said in a news release. "The male brandished a knife and began to advance on the deputies, holding the knife."
Three deputies fired shots at the man, killing him. The three deputies have been placed on leave.
The sheriff's office said the woman was unharmed and was safely removed from the apartment. Police said no other family members or deputies were injured. The Weber County Attorney's Office is investigating the shooting.
Shyann Johnson told KSL-TV she was the woman involved, and her boyfriend James Kudelka, 30, was the man killed.
Johnson said she and Kudelka have been dating for two years and were arguing Sunday afternoon when deputies arrived. Johnson's mother Tammy Marturello showed up shortly after the deputies arrived, and she was on the phone with Kudelka, Johnson said.
Although police said the man had barricaded himself in the house and had a knife, Johnson says he never barricaded himself and that he was only holding a phone and a bottle of liquor.
Johnson and Marturello said the situation escalated, and the deputies entered the apartment then shot Kudelka.
"There was no 'Get down.' There was no 'Get your hands up.' They just shot," Marturello said.
Johnson and Marturello said they are concerned about how the incident was handled and hope the situation is thoroughly investigated.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
