Woman killed, police officer wounded in Salt Lake City shooting

A police officer was wounded by gunfire while investigating a woman’s death early Monday in Salt Lake City.

Police on Monday afternoon identified the woman as Natalie Thurber, 34.

Officers were called to 125 S. 300 East, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said during a news conference.

“While investigating, officers confronted a man through an apartment window and there was an exchange of gunfire,” he said. One officer was shot in the leg.

Officers then made their way into the building and found Thurber’s body inside an apartment, Brown said. “Sadly a woman has lost her life and that tears at the fabric of our community.”

The wounded officer is expected to survive, said Brown, but “has a long road ahead."

Brown said two officers have been placed on administrative leave, as required under department protocol, and the case has been turned over to Unified Police Department.

Body camera footage will be released within 10 days, he added.

Brown said officers at the scene applied tourniquets and provided emergency medical care to the injured officer, and pulled him to safety.

The man suspected of shooting at the officers apparently fled through another exit; he was found later. He was wounded in the exchange of gunfire and was treated at a hospital, said Salt Lake City police detective Greg Wilking.

Some nearby apartments were evacuated and roads around the building were barricaded early Monday.

Also attending the news conference was Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I will just express my saddened heart that I think the department and the community feels at the tragedy that happened earlier this morning, both for the woman that lost her life and for our officer, fortunately who will recover, but who was badly injured.”