Full Breakdown
Taylorsville Officer Charged with Manslaughter in 2024 Fatal Shooting
5/15/2026, 7:34:36 AM
Incident Overview
On Oct. 9, 2024, Taylorsville Police Department detective Jimmy Jeremy Haas, 36, shot 28-year-old Henry Chavez Jr. through the rear windshield of Chavez’s green pickup after the vehicle reversed and rammed Haas’s unmarked SUV three times in a parking lot near 3994 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City. Body-camera video shows Haas stepping behind a parked car, shouting “Let me see your hands,” then firing a single shot. Chavez fled, screamed “¡Me mataron!” and was found unresponsive in a nearby garage 16 minutes later, later dying from his injuries. Prosecutors filed a second-degree felony manslaughter charge, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The case is the first county manslaughter filing for a police shooting since the 2012 killing of Danielle Willard, which ended without a trial but resulted in a $1.425 million civil settlement.
Official Statements & Responses
District Attorney Sim Gill said his office repeatedly reviewed the shooting before obtaining an outside expert opinion and filing the manslaughter charge. Taylorsville Police Chief Brady Cottam was briefed on the decision. City spokesperson Kim Horiuchi said the city has confidence in the system, stresses the presumption of innocence, and will not comment further on personnel matters. Defense attorney Blake Hamilton has not responded to requests for comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Law-enforcement analyst Eric Daigle concluded, with professional certainty, that Haas’s use of deadly force was unreasonable, violated Taylorsville Police Department policy, and fell short of industry standards.
On-the-Ground Reports
Body-camera video shows Haas stepping behind a parked car, shouting “Let me see your hands,” as the pickup reversed and rammed his SUV three times. After the truck was pinned, Haas fired once through the rear window. Witnesses heard Chavez scream “¡Me mataron!” and saw him run into a nearby garage before being found unresponsive.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prosecutors initially did not name the victim, later identifying him as Henry Chavez Jr. No weapons were found, yet an officer on scene said “I have no idea” when asked if Chavez was armed. The defense has not issued a public statement, leaving questions about Haas’s training and decision-making.
Implications for Police Accountability
The manslaughter charge revives scrutiny of Taylorsville’s use-of-force policies, echoing the 2012 incident that led to a civil settlement after a similar charge.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Let me see your hands,” — Jimmy Jeremy Haas, Officer, Taylorsville Police Department
- “As he passed her, (Chavez) cried, '¡Me mataron!' (they killed me),” — Henry Chavez Jr., victim (as reported by witness)
- “I have no idea,” — Unnamed officer responding to weapon query
- “We have confidence in the system, and we believe every person is innocent until they are proven guilty at trial.” — Kim Horiuchi, City of Taylorsville spokesperson
