The Davis County attorney has decided that a Utah Highway Patrol trooper who shot and killed a man after a chase on Independence Day will not be charged with any crimes.
Sgt. Chamberlin Neff’s presence at the scene in Centerville was lawful and proper, and the shooting of Cody McCray was unlikely to result in a homicide conviction at trial, Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings wrote in a letter dated Thursday.
“We do not believe the evidence is reasonably likely to convince a unanimous jury to convict Sgt. Neff of murder, or any other homicide crime,” Rawlings wrote.
The letter was addressed to the commander of UHP and the Centerville police chief and provided to reporters Friday. Rawlings complimented all the police forces involved for their cooperation in his review.
The Utah Department of Public Safety, which oversees UHP, issued a statement Friday.
“The Utah Department of Public Safety’s Office of Professional Standards will be reviewing the findings of the external investigation along with conducting its own internal review, consistent with department policy,” the statement said. “Sgt. Neff is currently on paid administrative leave pending the department’s internal investigation.”
McCray’s family said he had an addiction to opioids and they warned law enforcement on July 4 that he might be planning a so-called suicide by cop. After a chase in the southern end of Davis County, McCray, 32, drove the wrong way on Legacy Parkway.
Police have said McCray’s car crashed head-on into a Centerville police car. Then another police car rammed McCray’s vehicle to send it into the median.
Police have said McCray was still revving the engine and making an effort to continue driving when Neff fired four shots.
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