Two detectives from the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force are on administrative leave with pay following a police-involved shooting and fatality in Provo on Tuesday night.

Around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Utah County deputies were attempting to make a traffic stop on a 2012 blue Buick LaCrosse on Geneva Road in Provo, according to Sgt. Nick Dupaix of the Provo Police Department. After making several signals for the vehicle to pull over, the vehicle reportedly fled at high speeds. Officers did not pursue, Dupaix said.

Shortly after the vehicle allegedly fled, a Utah County detective and a Pleasant Grove detective with the task force located the vehicle near 300 North and 900 West in Provo.

According to a Provo Police Department post on Facebook, Paul Rasmussen, 48, was seen getting out of the vehicle and the two officers illuminated their police lights. Rasmussen then allegedly pointed a gun at the officers, who shot Rasmussen multiple times.

“Officers rendered aid to (Rasmussen) until medical help arrived and transported him to Utah Valley Hospital. Doctors pronounced (Rasmussen) deceased approximately an hour later,” the Facebook post reads.

The two officers were not injured.

“Per protocol, the Officer Involved Critical Incident Team (OICI) is actively investigating this incident. The OICI is a team that comprises investigators from several Utah County law enforcement agencies. They will be working with the Utah County Attorney’s Office until the investigation is concluded,” according to the online post.

More information on the incident will be provided when the investigation has been completed, Dupaix said.

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