Utah animal control officer shot at, not injured

Smithfield police are looking for man who shot at an animal control officer Sunday evening.

Officer Frank Keepers was sitting on his front porch when a man who was riding as a passenger in an older model truck or jeep pointed a handgun at Keepers and fired, according to Smithfield police.

Smithfield Police Chief Johnny McCoy said Wednesday that it's "hard to say" whether the shooter was targeting the officer because of his position in law enforcement, but said that officers — even animal control officers — do get threats.

"We don't know if this was specifically targeting Officer Keepers or whether it was an opportunity [crime]," McCoy said. "We just don't know."

Keepers was not injured in the shooting.

Police are now looking for the shooter, who is described as a white man with shaggy hair sticking out from under a baseball cap. He was riding in a faded brown or gold vehicle, according to police.

McCoy said they had one person of interest by Wednesday afternoon, but no suspect has been identified

If anyone has information about the shooting, they are asked to call police at 435-563-8501 or email the police chief at jmccoy@smithfieldpd.net.jmiller@sltrib.com