Paighten Harkins

Reporter

Paighten covers breaking news and the criminal justice system for the Salt Lake Tribune. Before starting at the Tribune in October 2017, she lived and worked in Oklahoma. She has a dog named Major, who's objectively very cute.

(Paighten Harkins | The Salt Lake Tribune) Police cadets participate in simulation training on Dec. 2, 2020, at the Peace Officer Standards and Training academy at the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus in Sandy.

Is the fear factor overblown in police shootings?

By Paighten Harkins | Abby Ellis | FRONTLINE | November 22, 2021, 2:44 p.m.

(Salt Lake City Police Department via AP) This Aug. 13, 2017, file photo from Salt Lake City police body camera video shows Patrick Harmon, left, before he was shot and killed in Salt Lake City.

Appeals court brings back excessive force lawsuit against officer who killed Patrick Harmon

By Paighten Harkins | November 11, 2021, 2:00 p.m.

A screenshot of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaking during an online Q&A on Nov. 9, 2021. Cox addressed concerns about proposed redistricting maps that would split Salt Lake County into four congressional districts.

Here’s what you may have missed in Gov. Spencer Cox’s redistricting Q&A

By Paighten Harkins | November 10, 2021, 9:26 p.m.

(Moab Police Department) Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito talks to a police officer after police pulled over the van she was traveling in with her fiance, Brian Laundrie, near the entrance to Arches National Park on Aug. 12, 2021. The couple was pulled over after a reported domestic problem between the two. Petito was reported missing by her family a month later and was found dead on Sept. 19, 2021.

Moab charged nearly $3K in fees for Gabby Petito bodycam footage — and now they’re giving it back

By Paighten Harkins | October 29, 2021, 4:15 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Josh Siegel, writes a message next to the mural of his brother, Dillon Taylor, who was shot by the police 7 years ago. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021.

Shooting officer acted reasonably in killing Dillon Taylor, appeals court agrees

By Paighten Harkins | October 26, 2021, 10:45 p.m.

(Enoch Police Department) Enoch Police Officer Jeremy Dunn points his gun at Ivonne Casimiro after shooting her in the knee on June 29, 2018. Dunn told investigators he purposely shot Casimiro in the leg to save her life, like he'd done to a man in 2012. In both shootings, the suspects survived.

Shooting not to kill. This Utah case fuels a debate that frustrates police.

By Paighten Harkins | October 18, 2021, 4:18 p.m.

(KSL | Pool Photo) Buk Mawut Buk, 22, appears remotely for court on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Buk is charged with aggravated murder in the shooting death of University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe.

Fatal shooting of Aaron Lowe happened after argument over moving his car, records state

By Paighten Harkins | Becky Jacobs | Sean P. Means | October 15, 2021, 11:03 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Frankie the 20-year-old tortoise spends time in the courtyard at the Salt Lake City Veterans Home where he lives on Monday Oct. 11, 2021. Over the weekend he had quite the adventure when he escaped through an unlocked gate on Sunday with University of Utah police tracking him down elsewhere on campus.

How did escaped tortoise Frankie get across Foothill Drive alive? Slow and steady

By Paighten Harkins | October 12, 2021, 3:28 p.m.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) State Street was filled with hundreds during the SLC Women's March for reproductive rights and access to safe abortions, Oct. 2, 2021. Saturday's march was held in conjunction with other marches across the country.

1,000 rally for Women’s March in Utah to protest anti-abortion laws

By Paighten Harkins | October 3, 2021, 12:03 a.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memorial for Aaron Lowe, by the gate of the house on the corner of Broadmoor Street and Yermo Avenue, on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021.

Two hours, six noise complaints, one party: How Aaron Lowe’s killing highlights police staffing troubles

By Paighten Harkins | Jordan Miller | October 1, 2021, 1:24 p.m.