Man shot by police in West Valley City identified

WEST VALLEY CITY — A man who died after being shot by a police officer in West Valley City was identified by police on Tuesday.

The man, identified on Tuesday by the West Valley City Police Department as 40-year-old Sebastian Cerda-Monti, was shot by a police officer on Sunday.

Employees of Marriott's TownePlace Suites hotel found Cerda-Monti inside a storage building outside the hotel at 5473 W. High Market Dr., according to a Sunday statement from Deputy Communications Director for West Valley City Roxeanne Vainuku.

Employees proceeded to report Cerda-Monti to police after they said he was armed with a large stick and was threatening to shoot the employees. When officers responded, they said the man was holding a "large metal rod," according to Vainuku.

"Within moments after that, the officer had called out on the radio and said he had deployed his pepper spray and just moments after that the call came through that shots had been fired," Vainuku said.

Despite life-saving measures from police and medical responders, Cerda-Monti was pronounced deceased on scene, according to Vainuku.

Vainuku said the officer who fired at the man was placed on administrative leave as the investigation continued and witnesses said Cerda-Monti had run at officers with two large metal objects before the shooting occurred.

Vainuku called the occurrence rare, saying officers have the responsibility to protect themselves and others.

"This is never how we would want a situation to come to an end, but at the same time, officers have a responsibility to protect the safety of the people around them and also to protect themselves from danger," Vainuku said.

Cerda-Monti's last known residence was in South Salt Lake, according to police.

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