West Valley investigators piecing together violent gun battle that killed a man, injured 2 officers

WEST VALLEY CITY — Investigators were piecing together Saturday a violent chain of events that left two West Valley police detectives with gunshot wounds and a career criminal dead after a shootout Friday night.

Dozens of police officers and several agencies were involved in a high-speed chase, a foot pursuit and numerous shots fired that ended with the death of 31-year-old Jesus Florentino Merino near Valley Fair Mall.

One West Valley detective was shot in the ankle and another twice in the upper legs in the gunfire, said West Valley police Sgt. Mike Powell. Both detectives, who Powell declined to identify, are recovering in the hospital.

Two other West Valley officers and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper were placed on paid administrative leave as a result of firing their guns at Merino.

Powell would not say how Merino died. The state medical examiner will determine the cause of death, he said.

"He had violent intentions no matter what officers did," Powell said.

Police recovered a handgun and "other items of evidence" at the scene, he said. He would not specify the type of gun or what those items were.

A visibly upset woman at the scene Friday night said Merino was her brother. She said he was driving her car and before he left told her to "watch the news tonight."

Merino was wanted in connection with the aggravated kidnapping of a taxi driver and at least two robberies last week in Salt Lake City, according to Salt Lake police. The department earlier Friday released a surveillance photo of Merino at a 7-Eleven and a mug shot. It also offered a reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Merino robbed two 7-Eleven stores early Thursday and early Friday, police said. In both cases, he asked for cigarettes before pulling a gun on the clerks and demanding money.

Last Sunday, Merino took a cab driver hostage at gunpoint after being involved in a crash with another vehicle, police said. He forced the driver to take him from the accident scene and made arrangements to meet another person. He got out at 4500 South and 700 East, climbed into a pickup truck with a black camper shell, police said.

Friday night's events began when Merino opened fire on officers as they tried to pull him over in the area of 2400 South and Bangerter Highway because they believed he had just robbed a Taylorsville gas station, Powell said. One round shattered the windshield of the patrol car and high-speed chase ensued through the city and on U-201 and I-215.