St. George Police SWAT officers surround a vehicle at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — Gunshots were heard Wednesday morning after the northbound Port of Entry on Interstate 15 at the Utah-Arizona border was shut down and St. George Police and its SWAT team surrounded a vehicle.
Police arrived shortly after 7:30 a.m., with Utah Highway Patrol and Arizona Department of Transportation officers already at the Port of Entry, which handles commercial traffic entering Utah checking for registration and making sure vehicles comply with size and weight restrictions.
At least 12 St. George Police vehicles could be seen lining the entry road.
A white passenger vehicle could be seen under the awning of the employee parking area. A black SWAT armored vehicle stationed itself about 20 yards from the vehicle and a standoff continued for an hour.
Just before 8:40 a.m., shots were heard. Shortly after, SWAT officers moved in with rifles and other weapons drawn. As the officer closed in on the vehicle, their demeanor appeared to calm.
A Gold Cross Ambulance was also on scene.
As of 10:30 a.m., the northbound Port of Entry remained closed, while the southbound entry into Arizona continued normal operations.
This is a developing story.
Update Aug. 3, 10:30 a.m.Additional photos added. Port of Entry remains closed.
Photo Gallery
St. George Police SWAT officers surround a vehicle at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St. George Police SWAT officers surround a vehicle at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St. George Police SWAT officers brace against a wall at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St. George Police vehicles at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St.George Police conduct an investigation around a passenger vehicle after shots were heard at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St. George Police SWAT vehicle at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Gold Cross Ambulance moves in T officers brace against a wall at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St. George Police SWAT officers surround a vehicle at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
St. George Police command vehicle at the northbound Interstate 15 Port of Entry, St. George, Utah, Aug. 3, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.