May 19, 2000
Questions now surround the ten hour standoff in South Salt Lake yesterday.
Like, why all the police presence for one armed man?
And did 32-year-old Randy Vigil, diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, have the right to possess guns?
Our Crime Specialist Karen Scullin has some answers.
When Randy Vigil's mother called police to do a welfare check on him, she had already seen him with a gun. When police arrived, he met them as he was leaving with a gun in his hand.
Where was he going with the gun? No one knows. But should he have had a gun at all?
Police say 32-year-old Randy Vigil has never been committed, but was diagnosed as being mentally ill, with bi-polar disorder.
That alone does not make it illegal for him to own the weapons found inside his home.
Darin Sweeten/South Salt Lake Police Dept.: THIS PARTICULAR WEAPON HERE IS A NINE MILLIMITER WEAPON. IT ACTUALLY HAS THE CAPACITY TO HOLD 50 ROUNDS, SO IT'S A PRETTY POTENT WEAPON TO BE POSSESSING.
Vigil's history includes two d.u.i.'s, a burglary conviction, and an active protective order by his ex-wife.
The protective order *does* make it illegal for him to have guns.
Darin Sweeten: IT IS UNCOMMON TO HAVE THIS MANY WEAPONS AND THIS TYPE OF WEAPONS. AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD THAT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS A MENTAL DISABILITY OR SOME ISSUE WITH THAT, IT'S VERY SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS.
So, police say you combine that with recent shooting incidents involving mentally ill people at the Triad Center,
and LDS Family History Library, and it explains the
manpower and firepower that was criticized by Vigil's friends and family.
Sweeten: ONE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE SWAT TEAM COULD ACTUALLY SEE HIM THROUGH THE GLASS POINTING THE HANDGUN OUT IN THEIR DIRECTION.
There were about 45 SWAT members that made up three teams, rotating shifts as each team grew tired. They all came in separate vehicles-- that explains the number of cars. And about ten Highway Patrol troopers helped with traffic.
Vigil is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation today. At this point, police don't think he'll face any charges.
