Dash camera captures fatal road traffic incident; 15 bullet casings were recovered from the scene

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Another driver's dash camera captured video of the road rage incident that resulted in the death of a 50-year-old man in Salt Lake County.

The incident occurred after 5 a.m. Monday in the eastbound lanes of State Route 201 between Redwood Road and 1000 West, along the border of Salt Lake City and West Valley City.

The suspect was identified as 44-year-old Thomas Jim Long.

According to court documents, video captured the 50-year-old victim driving a black Dodge Ram when he appeared to cut off Long, who was driving a Ford Explorer.

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The video then showed “aggressive driving behavior for a long time, including checking the brakes and cutting off the victim.”

According to Record, Long changed lanes without signaling and crashed in front of the Ram.

The video showed the victim striking the Explorer multiple times. Officials said at one point the victim signaled as if he was exiting the highway before turning back into Long's vehicle.

Officers said Long then drove in front of the victim, forcing both vehicles into the concrete barrier.

According to court documents, Long then fired several shots at the other man.

When a Utah Highway Patrol trooper was dispatched to the scene, he said there was a small fire under the Ram and Long near the Explorer.

After the fire was extinguished, Long was taken into custody.

Emergency services attended the scene and provided first aid to the other man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

His identity has not been revealed.

Officers said Long told them he was defending himself after he saw the other man pull something from his waistband.

He told dispatchers “he responded and shot him,” court records say.

Investigators said they found multiple bullet holes in the Ram's passenger window and recovered 15 shell casings from the scene.

The magazine of the gun used in the shooting held 15 rounds, officials said, although they did not know the exact number of shots fired.

The eastbound lanes of SR-201 were closed while investigators worked on scene. The road was reopened shortly before 1:30 p.m

Officials have asked anyone who may have captured dashcam video of the incident or saw what happened to contact the Utah Department of Public Safety.

There have long been charges of murder, reckless driving and aggravated assault – all with increased charges of reckless driving after the Utah State Legislature recently passed laws that impose additional penalties on similar incidents.

Investigators with the Utah State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) recommended that Long not be released on bail.

Officials said Long previously failed to appear in court for driver's license violations in 2018 and 2019.

Long's criminal history included two drug paraphernalia charges in 201 and 2016 and an aggravated assault charge in 2016 that was later dismissed.

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