facebook-pixel

Salt Lake City police name Idaho man killed in gunfight with officers

Before shooting at police, Matthew Cieslak had carjacked a vehicle, authorities said.

(Jordan Miller I The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Police shot and killed a man near 220 S. Orange St. after an alleged carjacking.

Salt Lake City police have released the name of the 38-year-old armed man who officers fatally shot Saturday after authorities say he carjacked a vehicle and then fired on police.

At about 6 p.m. Saturday, Matthew Cieslak, of Idaho, initially tried to carjack a vehicle near 600 South and Interstate 15 in downtown Salt Lake City, police said. After his attempt was reportedly unsuccessful, Cieslak was able to carjack a different vehicle, which he used to flee through the city as police tried to stop him, authorities said.

In an industrial area near 220 S. Orange St., southeast of the Salt Lake City International Airport, shots were exchanged between police and Cieslak, who was killed.

Authorities haven’t said how many times Cieslak was shot. The two officers who opened fire on him have been placed on paid administrative leave.

No officers were injured in the shooting, police said. No further details about the shooting had been released as of Monday afternoon.

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.