Utah County Deputy Wride Killed In Cold Blood By Armed Felon

Cory Wride and José Ángel García Jáuregui

Murder suspect, Jáuregui died of gunshot wounds on Friday and his companion, a female minor remains in custody.

By H. Nelson Goodson

February 1, 2014

Spanish Fort, Utah - Utah County Sheriff Jim Tracy said during a press conference, that Deputy Sergeant Cory Wride, 44, had been killed on Thursday by a lone gunman, José Ángel García Jáuregui, 27, when he stopped to render aid. Wride reported that he was checking out a parked vehicle on the road and was going to investigate, if the motorist needed any help.

As Sgt. Wride parked his vehicle off the road. He went to talk to Jáuregui who was accompanied by a female minor. When Wride went back to do a check for warrants, Jáuregui then fatally shot Wride with a rifle while sitting in his squad. 

Jáuregui then fled the scene with the minor. While being pursued for about 50 miles between Utah and Juab Counties, Jáuregui managed to shoot and injured one pursuing deputy in the head. Utah County Deputy Greg Sherwood, 38, underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

Juab County deputies later shot and wounded Jáuregui after crashing a second vehicle that he managed to carjack. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died on Friday from the injures.

The minor was taken into custody, but has not been identified.

Jáuregui had a warrant issued on Wednesday for parole violation. He was convicted of attempted homicide and served four and a half years in prison, but in December 2012 was released on parole.

Sgt. Wride is survived by his wife and five children.