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Layton • A domestic dispute in Layton exploded in gunfire late Tuesday night, leaving a man in critical condition and sending a woman and a police officer to the hospital.
Layton police Lt. Garret Atkin said officers responding to a 911 domestic violence call arrived at a home near 600 East and Miller Avenue about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, and matters went out of control soon thereafter.
"[The female caller] reported that a female friend was being assaulted by a boyfriend. ... She felt the suspect was going to kill the victim," Atkin said. "When officers arrived, they were informed that the suspect had dragged the female across the street."
As an officer approached the scene, the suspect, 30-year-old Joshua Isakson, allegedly attacked with his fists. The officer suffered head and facial injuries but managed to fire several rounds, at least one of which struck the suspect in the chest. Other arriving officers then secured the suspect. The suspect's stepfather Neil Linton said he felt the officer was justified in firing his gun because "if he didn't, [Isakson] would've killed him."
Atkin said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Isakson did not appear to have had a weapon, but the officer felt his life was in danger "during a very sudden, very violent attack." Police would not further detail the nature of the attack, citing an ongoing investigation.
But Isakson's mother, Carol Linton, said she was there for the whole thing.
Isakson and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Sheena Blais, had been fighting at the home that he shares with his mother and stepfather. Isakson was in his bedroom with Blais when the police showed up, Linton said. Linton went outside when she saw the lights from the officer's car and watched the officer walk into the house with his gun already drawn. When the officer opened the bedroom door, Isakson started "pounding him," Linton said.
Linton recalled that the two men were struggling in the hallway for a minute or two before they collapsed on top of her. The men got up and continued fighting in the living room, where Isakson was on top of the officer and hitting him. The next thing Linton remembered was hearing three gunshots — and that at least one bullet struck her son on the lower right side of his chest.
The officer was covered in blood, and her son fell sideways. Two other officers then rushed in and cuffed Isakson, Linton said.
Isakson was transported to an area hospital in critical condition where he remained Thursday in intensive care; the injured officer also was taken to a hospital for treatment and evaluation and released Wednesday.
Blais, allegedly battered by the suspect earlier, also was taken to a hospital for examination and released, police said.
Atkin said the shooting would be investigated under the Davis County Officer Involved Shooting Protocol by officers from other area law enforcement agencies.
The injured officer, identified only as an eight-year veteran, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the conclusion of the shooting review.
Charges against Isakson were pending, awaiting his medical outcome.
Isakson spent time in Utah State Prison for a burglary and theft conviction in 2006, and had been previously convicted of child abuse, drug possession, criminal mischief and the unlawful acquisition, possession or use of a transfer card, according to a search of Utah court records.