Security guard fired shot during confrontation at WVC driver's license office, police say


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WEST VALLEY CITY — A confrontation between a security guard and another man inside a state Driver License Division office resulted in a shot from the security guard's gun being fired.

No one was injured in the incident and the man the security guard was fighting surrendered immediately after hearing the shot, according to police.

The incident happened just after 10 a.m. at the Driver License Office at 2780 W. 4700 South. A 21-year-old man got into an argument with one of the clerks at the counter and was asked to leave, said West Valley police spokesman Sam Johnson.

The man walked outside, but then turned around and went back in to continue his argument. As the security guard attempted to escort the man back out, the two became engaged in a physical fight. At one point, both were on the ground struggling with each other, Johnson said.

During the struggle on the ground, a shot was fired from the security guard's gun into the ceiling. Investigators were looking Monday at whether the shot was fired intentionally or accidentally or whether the gun was even removed from the security guard's holster when it went off.

Rujal Hassan Abdi, 21, was arrested for investigation of assault and disorderly conduct. A 17-year-old boy originally believed to be involved was also briefly taken into custody but was released a short time later when it was determined he was not involved in the altercation, Johnson said.

A protective order was taken out against Abdi on June 30, according to state court records, and he was charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, in 3rd District Court on Aug. 7 in a domestic violence-related case for allegedly attacking his girlfriend who was five months' pregnant with their child. A pretrial protective order was reinstated on Aug. 18.

Abdi was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday on a warrant, according to court records.

The Department of Public Safety contracts out security at the driver license offices to private security companies. Citadel Security employs the guards at the West Valley office.

Contributing: Sandra Yi

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