Allegations surrounding an officer-involved shooting have begun to swirl after some witnesses say the off-duty Salt Lake County Sheriff's deputy was "possibly intoxicated" and that he pulled the trigger without being in physical danger, according to attorney Alan Mortensen, who was retained Monday by the shooting victim's family.

"Fortunately, Green Street (Social Club) had video cameras that recorded the whole thing," Mortensen said. "… Soon we'll know everybody's involvement in this."

Mortensen has formally requested a copy of the club's surveillance video and results from a blood alcohol test, which was apparently conducted on the deputy in question sometime after the incident at the Trolley Square nightclub.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's office did not respond to two interview requests.

And John Junior "J.J." Pikula can't tell his side of the story yet because he's been in a medically induced coma since doctors removed a bullet from his torso Saturday morning, Mortensen said.

Pikula was at the club celebrating his bachelor Party; he was scheduled to get married this coming Saturday. The deputy, too, was there celebrating with his friends and family.

"It started on a dance floor," said Mortensen. "Someone from one party asked a woman from the other party to dance and that caused some sort of altercation."

A sheriff's spokesman initially told the Deseret News the deputy, whose identity has not been released, shot a man who was fighting with other people. But Mortensen said, he believes video footage may confirm the deputy was in the heart of the argument, even throwing punches, and that tapes may show he used excessive force.

"The unfortunate thing, it appears the bouncers had everything under control." Mortensen said. "They used mace and got everyone settled down and started to throw them out of the club when the shot went off. I know at least one of the bouncers was frustrated because they had done their job and yet the officer still decided to use his weapon."

e-mail: jhancock@desnews.com