Vigil held for man killed in South Jordan police-involved shooting

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) — Marcelo Gutierrez is remembered by family and friends as a “gentle giant.”

A vigil in memory of Gutierrez was held Sunday night at Glenmoor Field in South Jordan, the area where he was shot and killed in a police-involved shooting. South Jordan police said they attempted to arrest Gutierrez using “less-lethal force” until officers were allegedly attacked with a knife. Gutierrez was then shot and later died in the hospital.

It was an emotional night at the vigil as family and friends remembered Gutierrez. His older siblings say it was a life taken too soon and in a way that should not have happened.

Gutierrez’s older sister, Raymi Lemisio, said: “He didn’t have to die. They didn’t have to shoot him. And we, our family, firmly believe that.”

Bryan Gutierrez, Marcelo’s older brother, said he loved baseball and was an All-Star while playing for Taylorsville. He said the sport was a safe place for his brother while he struggled with mental health issues.

“He loved playing the trombone. He enjoyed movies and books like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings,” Bryan Gutierrez described. “He really loved eating and trying new foods. He was our best friend.”

The ceremony served as a reminder of the kind of person Gutierrez was. One family member thought back to the time he gave up his coat to keep them warm as they walked home in the snow. It also served as a reminder of what mental health issues can do to a family. Lemisio said her younger brother’s problems changed him, but he’s been doing better lately.

The family hopes this story will lead to a change in the way police deal with people like Gutierrez who struggle with mental health issues.

“I’m sure many families have similar fears when it comes to working with the police,” Lemisio said. “We want something to be done about it. We want the police to act differently when dealing with people like Marcelo, because we firmly believe they didn’t have to shoot him and he didn’t have to die.”

According to the latest report, the Officer Involved Critical Incident Team was investigating the shooting and the officers involved were placed on leave.