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Aaron Lee Zimmerman

Age : 46

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/24/2023

Location : 6789 Palm Frond Court

City : Kearns

County : Salt Lake

State : Utah

Agency : Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake

Officer(s) :Sgt. Dawson

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/23/2023, shortly after 9:00 p.m., Unified Police Department officers responded to 6789 Palm Frond Court in an unincorporated area of Salt Lake County between Kearns and West Jordan for a reported verbal domestic disturbance involving 46-year-old Aaron Lee Zimmerman. Officers temporarily handcuffed Zimmerman while investigating. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill later said officers determined that no crime had occurred, released Zimmerman from the handcuffs and allowed him to leave with a friend.
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Several hours later, police were called back after Zimmerman returned to the residence. According to the later DA review, callers reported that Zimmerman was causing problems and behaving aggressively. Three Unified Police officers from the Kearns Precinct responded and began looking for him.
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Officers located Zimmerman concealed behind garbage cans outside the residence. Police reported that he was armed with a small handgun. Body-camera footage reviewed during the subsequent investigation showed the encounter developing rapidly after officers located him.
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According to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's review, Zimmerman fired four rounds at one of the officers, identified in the later public account as Sgt. Dawson, as she moved toward cover behind a vehicle. The DA said slowed and enlarged body-camera footage showed Zimmerman's hand extending from behind the garbage cans with a handgun and showed him tracking Dawson's movement while firing.
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Three Unified Police officers returned fire. The DA reported that the officers collectively fired between 18 and 22 rounds. Zimmerman was struck by police gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene.
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The Salt Lake City Police Department investigated the fatal shooting under the county's officer-involved-critical-incident protocol. The three Unified Police officers were placed on administrative leave following Zimmerman's death.
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In July 2024, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced that his office would not file criminal charges against any of the three officers. The DA concluded that the officers' use of deadly force was legally justified based on their perception that Zimmerman presented an imminent threat.
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Zimmerman's full name and correct age are independently confirmed by his obituary. Aaron Lee Zimmerman was born on 09/19/1976 and died on 08/24/2023 at age 46. Some later news coverage incorrectly reported his age as 49.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Three Unified Police Department officers fired during the encounter. The later DA reporting identifies one of the officers as Sgt. Dawson, but the available public material reviewed does not provide enough information to reliably establish the complete identities of all three shooting officers.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/police-shooting-leaves-1-dead-in-unincorporated-salt-lake-county
https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/salt-lake-county-da-no-charges/
https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/district-attorney-says-suspect-fired-shots-before-being-killed-by-police-in-2023-incident
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/deseretnews/name/aaron-zimmerman-obituary?id=53024775