Victoria Thomas remembers the snow and how the heavy flakes came down, falling on the body of her dead son, Marc Neal, as police investigated the Feb. 3, 2020, shooting in her front yard. She remembers investigators digging around for officers’ shell casings.
Neal, 56, was a loving son, Thomas said, but he struggled with mental illness. She said that illness led to the confrontation with officers and she blames it for his death.
She also remains upset at the officers who fired at him.
In 2020, at least 40% of people Utah police shot at were experiencing a mental health event, according to a Salt Lake Tribune database that tracks police shootings. This data point was gleaned from news reports, and includes cases where police determined or family members reported that a person had a mental health issue, mental disability or was suicidal.
Charges: ACLU attorney fired shots at car with ex-wife, kids inside
Rights group says attorney no longer works for it
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Aaron Kinikini, 45, of Salt Lake City, was arrested Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, for investigation of aggravated assault and three counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. The day before his arrest, the ACLU of Utah announced it had hired him as its new staff attorney.
Salt Lake County Jail
SALT LAKE CITY The new attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah was charged Tuesday for allegedly shooting at a car that his children and ex-wife were in, according to police.
SALT LAKE CITY An attorney who police say fired a gun at a car in which his children were riding Friday evening is now out of a job with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, just days after he was hired.
The ACLU of Utah issued a brief statement Tuesday noting that attorney Aaron Kinikini is no longer employed at the chapter. The decision was made following Kinikini s arrest Friday evening, which happened a day after the ACLU of Utah announced Kinikini was hired as its new staff attorney.
Kinikini was arrested by Salt Lake City police on suspicion of aggravated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, criminal mischief, unlawful detention, and the unlawful discharge of a firearm. He remained in Salt Lake County Jail as of Monday, according to jail documents.
ACLU of Utah attorney reportedly shoots at a car with his ex-wife and children inside
Aaron Kinikini is “no longer employed” by the organization, the ACLU says.
(Photo courtesy of the Salt Lake County jail) Aaron Kinikini | Updated: Dec. 22, 2020, 11:55 p.m.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah has fired an attorney the organization had just hired after he allegedly fired a gun at his ex-wife’s car while she and their children were inside.
Aaron Kinikini, 45, is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail pending formal charges.
The victim told police she went to Kinikini’s home about 9:30 p.m. on Friday to pick up three of their children. According to a probable cause statement, the victim said Kinikini stood behind her car to prevent her from leaving.
The report does not indicate whether anyone in the vehicle was injured by the gunfire.
Kinikini was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault, three counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, unlawful detention, criminal mischief and illegal discharge of a firearm.
Police requested that he be held without bail, saying his release “would constitute a substantial danger to another individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail,” according to the affidavit.
A spokesman for the ACLU of Utah declined to comment about Kinikini’s arrest.