Officer Wood was murdered while pursuing 17 year old robbery suspect, Justin Van Roekal. Van Roekal's father called police and said his son threatened him with a gun when he arrived to pick up the teen at the friend's home.
Wood saw Van Roekal on foot minutes later, got out of his patrol car and chased the teen. Van Roekal hid behind a fence in a park near 2350 W. 7500 South. Wood was shot, apparently from only a few feet away, as he walked into the park's gate. After Wood's shooting, Van Roekal hijacked a car and used a woman's cell phone. He then attempted to hijack two other cars, the last driven by West Jordan police Detective Jim Lang. When Lang got out of the car and confronted Van Roekal, the youth raised a 9 mm handgun, police said. It was unclear whether Van Roekal fired the gun or whether any of Lang's shots struck him when Lang returned fire. The teen put the gun in his mouth and fired. He died at the scene. A viewing for Wood will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the LDS Welby Stake Center, 8841 S. 4800 West. A second viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Copper Hills High School, 5445 W. New Bingham Highway, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery, 1300 W. 7800 South
Wood saw Van Roekal on foot minutes later, got out of his patrol car and chased the teen. Van Roekal hid behind a fence in a park near 2350 W. 7500 South. Wood was shot, apparently from only a few feet away, as he walked into the park's gate. After Wood's shooting, Van Roekal hijacked a car and used a woman's cell phone. He then attempted to hijack two other cars, the last driven by West Jordan police Detective Jim Lang. When Lang got out of the car and confronted Van Roekal, the youth raised a 9 mm handgun, police said. It was unclear whether Van Roekal fired the gun or whether any of Lang's shots struck him when Lang returned fire. The teen put the gun in his mouth and fired. He died at the scene. A viewing for Wood will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the LDS Welby Stake Center, 8841 S. 4800 West. A second viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Copper Hills High School, 5445 W. New Bingham Highway, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery, 1300 W. 7800 South
Officer Wood was murdered while pursuing 17 year old robbery suspect, Justin Van Roekal. Van Roekal's father called police and said his son threatened him with a gun when he arrived to pick up the teen at the friend's home.
Wood saw Van Roekal on foot minutes later, got out of his patrol car and chased the teen. Van Roekal hid behind a fence in a park near 2350 W. 7500 South. Wood was shot, apparently from only a few feet away, as he walked into the park's gate. After Wood's shooting, Van Roekal hijacked a car and used a woman's cell phone. He then attempted to hijack two other cars, the last driven by West Jordan police Detective Jim Lang. When Lang got out of the car and confronted Van Roekal, the youth raised a 9 mm handgun, police said. It was unclear whether Van Roekal fired the gun or whether any of Lang's shots struck him when Lang returned fire. The teen put the gun in his mouth and fired. He died at the scene. A viewing for Wood will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the LDS Welby Stake Center, 8841 S. 4800 West. A second viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Copper Hills High School, 5445 W. New Bingham Highway, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery, 1300 W. 7800 South
Wood saw Van Roekal on foot minutes later, got out of his patrol car and chased the teen. Van Roekal hid behind a fence in a park near 2350 W. 7500 South. Wood was shot, apparently from only a few feet away, as he walked into the park's gate. After Wood's shooting, Van Roekal hijacked a car and used a woman's cell phone. He then attempted to hijack two other cars, the last driven by West Jordan police Detective Jim Lang. When Lang got out of the car and confronted Van Roekal, the youth raised a 9 mm handgun, police said. It was unclear whether Van Roekal fired the gun or whether any of Lang's shots struck him when Lang returned fire. The teen put the gun in his mouth and fired. He died at the scene. A viewing for Wood will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the LDS Welby Stake Center, 8841 S. 4800 West. A second viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Copper Hills High School, 5445 W. New Bingham Highway, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery, 1300 W. 7800 South
