SLCPD releases bodycam footage from fatal officer-involved shooting after domestic violence call

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Salt Lake City Police Department has released body-worn camera footage and a 911 call from a fatal officer-involved shooting after a domestic violence call last month.

Christian Thomas Allen, 60, was shot and killed after midnight on May 27, 2025. SLCPD says they were dispatched to a “domestic-violence-burglary in-progress call” on the 2000 South block of Judith Street.

According to SLCPD, all of the officers involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave per standard procedure. The investigation is being conducted by the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake.

911 phone call

In 911 audio shared by SLCPD, a woman frantically told police that she is hiding in a bedroom with her two teenage children from her ex-husband. She identified the suspect as Allen and said that he had previously threatened to kill her.

In the background, the suspect can be heard shouting swear words and threats. The woman told police that he was threatening to light the house on fire. Loud bangs were heard over the call as Allen walked around yelling. The woman then told police that he said he had gasoline inside the house, and she could smell it.

“You [expletive] did this to me. [Inaudible]. I went down to Chevron and poured gasoline all over myself. I got gasoline all over me, and I’m going to light myself on fire and burn the house [inaudible]. This is your [expletive] fault,” SLCPD said can be heard during the 911 call.

The dispatcher remained on the phone with the woman and told her that police and fire were on the way. Loud bangs and dogs barking were heard in the background. After a moment, the woman told the dispatcher that the police shot him, and they’re all okay. The call ended after police guided the woman and her children out of the house.

Bodycam footage

SLCPD says that all officers arrived under a “Code 3 response, meaning they had their lights and sirens activated.” The first officer identified a white van and called out the license plate. He waited for additional units before entering the house.

The second officer was briefed at the scene and then went to the back of the residence with the first officer. He saw that the storm door was open and shouted it out. He and the first officer saw the suspect in the basement.

The third and fourth officers knocked on the front door to try and make contact. They confirmed that the other two officers are in the back and that they saw Allen, and that they were going to break down the door.

The officers broke down the front and back doors and entered the house. All four officers saw Allen in the hallway when they entered. The first and second officers entered the kitchen, and Allen started advancing toward them. The officers yelled at him to stop and drop the knife. The second officer fired at Allen several times, and Allen collapsed on the kitchen floor.

A dog then ran up the stairs, and the second officer tried to push it back before it ran out the back door. He then walked downstairs to clear the basement. The victims were safely escorted from the house by officers.

According to SLCPD, officers provided Allen medical attention, and Salt Lake City Fire and Gold Cross Ambulance arrived to perform life-saving efforts, but Allen died at the scene. The victims reported no physical injuries.

“This appears to have been a fast-moving, unpredictable, and dangerous situation,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd is quoted in the release. “Our officers made a split-second decision to protect themselves and others in the home under extremely volatile circumstances involving a potentially life-threatening call.”