Murray officers cleared in shooting

MURRAY — The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office has determined the shooting of an armed man by two Murray police officers was justified.

Eric Thatcher was shot and seriously wounded by police July 28 after he pointed what appeared to be two rifles while running toward them, according to the district attorney's office.

Officers Thomas Rice and Gregory Stone heard someone yell, "I'm going to kill them," just prior to seeing Thatcher advance, according to the district attorney's office.

Both officers, believing their lives were in imminent danger, opened fire.

Police were originally at Thatcher's house investigating a possible road-rage incident from earlier that evening, Thatcher had followed a man to his driveway, asked him what his problem was and threatened to kill him, according to a press release from the district attorney's office.

Thatcher drove off after the man called 911. The victim gave emergency dispatchers the license plate number of Thatcher's car. Detectives traced it back to his house near 500 East and 6000 South.

After the shooting, investigators determined Thatcher was carrying two pellet guns.

Thatcher was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, and threats against life or property, a class B misdemeanor. He is scheduled to be in court Tuesday.

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