PROVO — Provo police have confirmed that one person was shot during a protest Monday night near the police department.
The victim was driving a white SUV on University Avenue and was attempting to turn onto Center Street when a group of protestors began “crowding around the vehicle. A male protester ran to the SUV on the passenger side, pointed a handgun at (the) driver and shot one round through the window,” according to a a snyopsis of the incident by Provo Deputy Police Chief John Guyerman.
The driver, who was struck by a bullet, “hit the gas trying to leave the situation,” Guyerman said.
Cellphone video recorded by witnesses shows the SUV appearing to push through the protesters, with at least one person falling to the ground.
As the SUV is speeding away, the gunman ran after the vehicle and fired a second round that went through the rear passenger window, according to police.
After the shooting, video shows the gunman then “conceals the firearm and continues to protest,” Guyerman said. “This same protester later approached another vehicle at 500 North and University Avenue striking and breaking the window with the handgun.”
The driver of the SUV was treated at Utah Valley Hospital. A condition was not immediately known Tuesday.
About 100 people had gathered on Center Street near the Provo Police Department Monday night to protest against police brutality. A counter protest was also held at the same time.
About 8:40 p.m., police say the peaceful protest turned violent after reports of a shooting and hit-and-run were received.
“We are grateful for the photos and videos we’ve received and we are following all leads. If anyone has video or photos of the incident at Center Street and University Avenue, please contact detective Patterson at npatterson@provo.org,” police said in a statement.
Video shot by KSL-TV recorded what appears to be a man with his face concealed, pointing a handgun at the SUV. The “popping” sound of shots being fired can be heard in the video.
About 50 minutes after the shooting, tensions remained high as cars continued to drive through the lines of protesters, prompting some to jump onto the vehicles and hit the windows. Demonstrators marched to the Provo Police Department and were met with officers in riot gear. Amid calls to disperse and threats of arrest from police, protesters chanted, “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
By 10 p.m., most of the crowd had dispersed after a woman with a megaphone, who was one of the organizers of the protest, told everyone to go home.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
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Gunman shot driver, then hid weapon and continued to protest, Provo police say - Deseret News
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