Officers identify suspect who reportedly shot Provo police officer, funeral services announced
The Provo Police Department announced the funeral services and a public candlelight vigil for an officer killed in the line of duty last weekend.
Officer Joseph Shinners died on Saturday after he was shot trying to apprehend a wanted fugitive near a shopping center in Orem. His funeral is set for Saturday, January 12 at 11 a.m. at the Utah Valley University UCCU Event Center at 800 W. University Parkway in Orem.
A public candlelit vigil is also scheduled for Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Community members can gather at the Provo City Center at 48 S. 300 West to hear remembrances from those who knew Shinners.
The Orem Police Department arrested Matt Frank Hoover, 40, on suspicion of shooting Shinners in the parking lot of the Bed Bath & Beyond at 50 W. University Parkway in Orem.
Hoover lived near Fillmore for a time before staying at various locations in Utah and Salt Lake Counties, the department reported on Monday.
He had two outstanding felony warrants for drug possession and distribution at the time of his arrest. The warrants were issued from 4th District Court in Provo and 4th District Court in Juab.
Hoover reportedly had made recent threats of violence against police officers. He also had prior misdemeanor and felony convictions for shoplifting, attempted forgery and drug possession.
Officials said he will be charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, possession of a weapon by a restricted person and possession of methamphetamine.
At 9:53 p.m. on Saturday, Provo police approached Hoover’s vehicle at the Bed Bath & Beyond in an attempt to take him into custody. Hoover reportedly shot Shinners and the officer was able to return fire and struck Hoover at least once.
Shinners was taken to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo where he died shortly before midnight, said Provo Police Chief Richard Ferguson.
Hoover is currently under guard at a different local hospital in stable condition, according to Orem Police Chief Gary Giles.
Shinners, 29, was a three-year veteran on the force and left behind a wife and a 1-year-old son. He was “decent in every single way” and was “the very best of the Provo Police Department,” Ferguson praised.
Hundreds lined the streets in Springville during a procession Sunday afternoon as a hearse carrying Shinners’ casket drove from Taylorsville to Wheeler Mortuary in Springville.
Originally from the Boston area, Shinners served as a patrol officer with an assignment in the Central Business District. His brother is a police officer in Massachusetts and their father is a retired firefighter.
Shinners also served as a field training officer, a member of the bike patrol and on the SWAT team.
The Provo police chief awarded Shinners a posthumous promotion to master officer, saying the man exemplified service and understood sacrifice.
Community members placed American flags around Provo City Center and flowers atop Shinners’ patrol vehicle on display outside the police department. Other volunteers tied blue ribbons to trees and poles around the Provo City Center.
Provo officers gathered with family members at the Utah Valley Hospital on Saturday. By Monday, police agencies throughout the state had volunteered to cover shifts and patrol Provo to allow local officers to grieve.
A GoFundMe page set up by friends collected more than $35,000 as of Monday afternoon.
“He is the officer who you would want to show up at your door in your biggest crucible moment,” Ferguson said at a press conference on Sunday.
Local leaders and police departments across Utah shared condolences and praise for the fallen officer during the weekend. Gov. Gary Herbert announced the state and national flags will be lowered on the day of Shinners’ funeral.
“I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Officer Shinners,” the governor said in the statement. “It is devastating to mourn yet another death among our brave and selfless police force, and my heart aches for Joseph’s wife and young son. We owe an enormous debt to the men and women in uniform who work to protect our communities, and I pray that God will bless this dear family with peace during this very difficult time.”
Sen. Mitt Romney tweeted he was “heartbroken” after hearing about the shooting. Rep. Ben McAdams said the officer died “selflessly keeping the community safe” and sent prayers and condolences to his family.
Rep. John Curtis, R-UT and former Provo City mayor, announced he will give a floor speech tomorrow afternoon honoring Shinners.
“As the former Mayor of Provo, I am deeply saddened by this terrible news,” the Congressman said in a prepared statement. “I speak for our whole community when I say that Officer Shinners is a true hero. He gave the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of our people and we owe him and his family a debt of gratitude.”
Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi spoke at the press conference on Sunday and urged the community to have a renewed sense of gratitude and respect for officers and their families.
“To Officer Shinners — With all that we have in our souls, we salute you and thank you,” Kaufusi said.
Utah Valley University president Astrid Tuminez tweeted that Shinners graduated from the university’s law enforcement academy before joining the Provo Police Department.
Shinners is the first Utah County law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty since Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Cory Wride was killed in Eagle Mountain in January 2014.
The Orem Police Department is handling the criminal investigation while a parallel investigation is ongoing from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office’s Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol team.







