Bodycam of deadly police shooting shows suspect armed with knife approach Salt Lake City officers

Salt Lake City Police have released bodycam footage of the officer-involved critical incident from Tuesday, April 2, that left a man dead.

The incident occurred on the 800 block of South State Street. Police received a 911 call from an employee working at a Chevron gas station.

The employee reportedly told police that the suspect, later identified as Cameron Ammon Cloward, 36, had a knife and tried to stab him through a window. Based on the employee’s statements, police believe Cloward may have committed an aggravated robbery by using — or threatening to use — a dangerous weapon during the commission of a robbery or attempted robbery.

Officers arrived at the scene at around 2:30 a.m., finding Cloward walking in the parking lot while holding a knife. Cloward reportedly began walking north from the gas station on the east sidewalk of State Street. Cloward allegedly turned around, faced officers, and started walking back into the gas station parking lot.

Bodycam footage from one of the officers on the scene captured the officer telling Cloward to stop walking toward the gas station.

The footage then shows Cloward holding his knife with the blade positioned under his chin. Officers gave Cloward commands to stop and get on the ground, but he refused to comply, repeatedly saying, “I don’t care.”

One SLCPD officer reportedly requested a “less lethal shotgun,” before four officers then fired shots, resulting in Cloward’s death.

No officers were injured during the incident. The knife found at the scene matched the description provided by the store employee as a pocketknife. The blade of the knife was found extended, police said.