This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The viewing for the Utah County man who was shot and killed by police officers this week has been scheduled for Saturday.
Cody Evans, 24, died Sunday after Provo Police Officer Zac Lazenby and Utah County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Bagley fired on him. Evans allegedly aimed an Airsoft rifle at them; the BB gun's obvious orange tip apparently had been removed, police say.
Evans' viewing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Provo, according to Legacy Funerals. The church is located at 464 W. 3700 North. The funeral follows the viewing at 11 a.m.
"Cody had his ups and downs, but so do we all," said family friend Joe Bates at a vigil Monday night. "He was a good kid. It's just a shame."
Evans' death, Utah's fourth fatal police shooting this year, is still under investigation. William Crocker, one of Evans' brothers, said the family is hiring a lawyer to get to the bottom of questions left by his death.
Police found Evans inside his truck following a domestic violence call from his estranged wife. The woman said Evans had a BB gun and was going to attempt to commit "suicide by cop," police said. Evans refused to speak to the officers, but displayed a black rifle and racked it, making "a distinct 'metal on metal' sound," police wrote in a statement Monday.
That sound led officers to fear the rifle was real and not the Airsoft replica described by Evans' wife, police wrote. The officers got out ballistic shields while Evans threatened to shoot them and ram their cruisers if they didn't let him go, police wrote.
Evans eventually led officers on a chase, but it was called it off after Evans allegedly ran a red light and crossed into oncoming traffic lanes, "threatening to ram an officer," police wrote.
While officers searched for Evans, investigators at his wife's house found a realistic Airsoft replica of a hunting-style rifle, raising even more concern that the gun Evans had in his truck was a real firearm.
About 9:30 a.m., officers near 1800 West and 600 South saw Evans leave an outbuilding wearing a "tactical vest and a holster," police wrote. He wasn't carrying a rifle but "gestured like he was pointing a handgun at them." Officers took cover behind a vehicle while Evans ran to his truck, pulled out an AR-15-style rifle and "pointed it directly at officers."
Neither officer was wearing a body camera.
The fatal shooting is being investigated by the Utah County Attorney's Office.
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