SALT LAKE CITY – Utah prison inmate Curtis Allgier fatally shot 60-year-old officer Stephen Anderson at the University of Utah medical center the morning of June 25 before police captured him at an Arby’s restaurant.
The 27-year-old inmate, whose tattooed forehead contains a swastika and the words “skinhead,” was in the University of Utah orthopedic center for an MRI scan around 7:45 am. University Police Chief Scott Folsom remarked that some sort of altercation took place in which Allgier managed to grab Anderson’s gun and shoot him in the head.
After the shooting, Allgier fled on foot and carjacked a blue Ford Explorer. He then led police on a chase at speeds of up to 100 mph that ended only when they placed spikes in front of his car on the I-215. Allgier made it to an Arby’s on 1700 South and Redwood Rd. and stopped.
The Associated Press reports that Allgier fired one shot in the restaurant that hit no one before a customer took the gun from him. Police captured him unarmed in the manager’s office.
Allgier had been in prison for parole violation. After his capture, police took him to jail to await charges.
As a result of the shooting, the hospital is taking extra security precautions when treating inmates. Now, two corrections officers will escort inmate receiving treatment. The hospital’s security staff does not assist with the handling of inmates.
Over the next few weeks, hospital officials will meet with representatives of the Utah Department of Corrections to improve security.
