Chase Linde Allan: Family of Utah man who got killed in officer-involved shooting calls it 'brutal murder'
DAVIS COUNTY, UTAH: The family of Chase Linde Allan, who was fatally shot by police accused the city of stonewalling them and refusing to respond to their questions. The 25-year-old Utah man was shot to death in a post office parking lot in Farmington on Wednesday, March 1.
According to the family's statement released on Thursday, March 2, Allan's death was described as a brutal murder and has expressed their doubts about the cop's version of the incident. "We have learned more from media coverage about what occurred than anywhere else right now," read the statement.
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Police shot Allan while he was inside the vehicle
In the statement released by the family, Allan was shot by the police while he was still inside the car with its lights on and engine running. The police officers allegedly shot 12 rounds at him while he was inside the vehicle when reporters arrived. "Officers claim it was a routine traffic stop, yet the officer requested multiple other officers to the scene a couple of blocks prior to the stop. This resulted in the brutal murder of Chase at the hands of 5 Farmington Police officers, with them shooting him while he was still in his automobile and likely terrified for his safety." read the statement, according to KSL-TV.
'Police are stonewalling us'
"Our family was not properly notified of Chase's death as next of kin," said the family who shared that the local authorities have not provided any proper information to them. "Police are stonewalling us. Our family has not been permitted to see Chase and has not been contacted by authorities or justice departments with information surrounding this investigation," the statement says. The family described Allan as a person with a "shy and quiet demeanor." According to the statement, recently he had been studying law and was also a "patriot doing what he could to defend the people’s freedom and liberty."
“Our family was not properly notified of Chase’s death as next of kin. We found out about Chase’s death along with the entirety of our community via News Reporters and Articles written online," the statement added.
Police issues statement on Allan's death
A statement detailing events that led to Allan's death was released by the Farmington Police Department on Thursday, March 2. "On March 1, 2023, at about 3:22 pm, a Farmington Officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle," read the statement that noted Allen was the vehicle's "only occupant", and also stated, "During the stop, the driver became non-compliant with the initial officer."
According to the statement, matters escalated after the initial officer had to call for backup. "During the confrontation, the initial officer instructed the driver to exit the vehicle, which the driver refused. During an attempt to remove the driver from the vehicle, shots were fired, and the driver was injured. The driver was removed from the vehicle, and medical aid was rendered by officers on the scene," read the statement. The 25-year-old man was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing and the five police officers involved in the incidents are currently placed on administrative leave, as per the statement.