No charges filed against officer shooting that killed man in hostage situation

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — A Unified Police Officer who shot and killed a man in Millcreek earlier this year will not face criminal charges after the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office determined he was justified in his use of force.

The shooting happened on May 20, 2024, when officers responded to a hostage situation involving a 15-year-old victim in the area of 3500 South and 2300 East.

According to the DA’s investigation, officers entered the home. They found the suspect, identified as Sifou Saimasina Sua, holding a gun against the head of the teen with whom he was related. Sua allegedly told officers to leave, threatening to shoot the victim if they didn’t. Officers reported witnessing Sua begin to hide behind the hostage, pressing his gun closer to their head.

“I was a hundred percent, ‘This guy’s going to kill [the victim.]’ And I was terrified that I wasn’t going to save [them],” said UPD Officer Austin Schmidt. “So at that point … I lined up, and I took the shot right above his temple.”

After the shooting, the victim was able to escape the house and was reunited with their parents. Officers then approached Sua and found the handgun loaded between his legs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There’s just no happy ending here. There is just no ending that is not going to cause pain and loss and grief and hurt,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, later adding, “It’s a terrible scenario. One life is lost. One life is saved. And here is an officer who had to do what he needed to do.”

Gill later determined that based on the evidence Schmidt was justified in shooting Sua and declined to press criminal charges against the use of force.

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