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Provo • Demonstrators gathered in Pioneer Park on Wednesday afternoon to protest the death of Cody Evans, who was shot and killed by law enforcement officers after he allegedly aimed an airsoft rifle at them.

Evans, 24, died Feb. 15 after Provo Police Officer Zac Lazenby and Utah County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Bagley fired on him.

Neither officer was wearing a body camera. The fatal shooting is being investigated by the Utah County Attorney's Office.

Police have said that Evans' estranged wife called 911 to report a domestic violence situation. Police also have said the woman told them Evans was going to attempt to commit "suicide by cop" with a pellet gun.

But Joana Evans said Wednesday during the demonstration that her husband was not suicidal and she did not tell police he was.

She said she called for help from police because Cody Evans was intoxicated and "not in the right state of mind."

Joana Evans, who has three children — ages 3 months, 1 year and 3 years — with Cody Evans, said she told officers her husband did not have a real firearm.

"They knew the gun was fake," she said. "They knew from the beginning."

She said she even showed officers a photo of her husband with the gun.

Asked what police should have done differently, Joana Evans said: "Anything but what they did — tackle him, Taser him."

But police have said that despite being told Cody Evans had a pellet gun, a number of factors led officers to become concerned that he might have a real firearm.

When officers found Evans inside his truck following the 911 call, he refused to speak to them. Instead, he displayed a black rifle and racked it, making "a distinct 'metal on metal' sound," according to a police statement. The statement says that sound led officers to fear the rifle was real and not the replica described by Evans' wife.

The officers says they got out ballistic shields when Evans threatened to shoot them and ram their cruisers if they didn't let him go. A chase began but was called off after Evans allegedly ran a red light and crossed into oncoming traffic lanes.

While officers searched for Evans, investigators at his wife's house found a realistic hunting-style airsoft rifle, raising even more concern that the gun Evans had in his truck was real.

Then, near 1800 West and 600 South, officers saw Evans leave an outbuilding wearing what they described as a tactical vest and a holster, police wrote in the statement. He wasn't carrying a rifle but "gestured like he was pointing a handgun at them," police said.

Officers took cover behind a vehicle while Evans ran to his truck, pulled out an AR-15-style rifle — the pellet gun's obvious orange tip apparently had been removed, the statement says — and allegedly pointed it at them.

Jamie Kinyon said Evans is the father of her daughter, who will turn 4 next month.

Kinyon said none of the man's four children are "old enough to remember the good times with him. Four kids lost their father."

Linda Spencer, who helped organize the Wednesday demonstration, said those who gathered at the park want to find out the facts behind the shooting and get justice for Evans.

"This is the fourth officer-involved killing in the state this year," Spencer said. "We all want justice for all of these victims."

A dozen or so people gathered at the park holding signs that said, "Comply or die is not the law," and "We want justice for Cody Evans."

Later, the protesters marched to the Provo police station, where they stood on the front steps chanting, "Shame on Provo police," and "Justice for Cody Evans."

Twitter@PamelaMansonSLC