Armed Man Fatally Shot By Police At The Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple In South Jordan, Utah Now Identified As Daniel Pogue

Update December 27th: Post title updated to reflect the release of the man's identity. In addition, an updated KSTU Channel 13 news video is now provided.

On December 25th, 2010, an armed man now identified as 54-year-old Daniel M. Pogue was shot and killed by police on the grounds of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This post combines and summarizes the main points of media stories from KSTU Channel 13, KUTV Channel 2, the Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret News, and KSL Channel 5. Updated Dec. 27 KSTU video embedded below:

 

KSL Channel 5 eyewitness account now embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Although the temple was closed for the holiday, a number of people were on the temple grounds because of the mild weather and because being merely on the temple grounds can inspire a sense of peace in people. However, one person gave way to the spirit of contention. Around 12:43 P.M., an unidentified white male allegedly showed up on the temple grounds with another man. The first man displayed a gun, and got into a verbal confrontation with another person in the parking lot. A bystander called police.

When police arrived, they confronted the man, who failed to comply with their orders and ran from them. Fearing for the safety of bystanders, police then fired one shot at the man, killing him. A search of the man's vehicle, described as a silver SUV, revealed more than 50 rounds of ammunition, three shotguns, one rifle, three full-size swords and one machete. The identity of the man was initially withheld until his family could be contacted.

As is standard protocol, the officer involved in the fatal shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave. Investigations by South Jordan Police and the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office are anticipated.

Update December 26th: Although the decedent's name has not yet been released, his neighbors know he's the man who was shot by police because police and hazmat crews showed up at his basement apartment Saturday evening and stayed for most of the night. Neighbors said that about 90 minutes prior to the shooting, they saw the man in front of his driveway and he appeared to be distraught or agitated. Some thought he may have locked something in his car, as he appeared to be staring at his vehicle and talking to himself. He is described as ordinarily quiet and friendly, and his landlord called him the ideal tenant.

Update December 27th: South Jordan police finally released the name of the man; he is 54-year-old Daniel M. Pogue. Pogue allegedly has a history of mental illness.

Update December 29th: Daniel Pogue accused of involvement in real estate fraud. Pogue was one of 20 co-defendants scheduled for trial in West Jordan before Judge Mark Kouris in March 2011.

New Improved Version 2.0 Moroni Statue Installed Atop The Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple In Utah; Nearly 590,000 Show Up For Two-Month Open House

Now that the public open house for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is over, it's time for some last minute housekeeping before the formal dedication which will take place during nine different sessions to be held between August 21-23, 2009. And part of that housekeeping included the installation of the new, improved Version 2.0 Moroni statue atop the facility. Media stories from the Deseret News and KSL Channel 5.

Version 2.0 won't necessarily be more lightning-resistant, but it's an improvement over the older statue, which took a lightning strike back on June 13th and was irrevocably stained. But the statues, which always show Moroni facing towards the east in the expected direction of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, aren't merely symbolic. The Church itself says that they are installed specifically to attract lightning in the case of a strike and protect the temple from burning down.

KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

After the June 13th incident, initial thoughts were to send workers up to inspect the statue's damage and see how much cleaning and repair might be needed. However, after considering the difficulty and cost of doing that 180-plus feet off the ground, as well as the uncertain extent of the damage, Church leaders opted to replace the statue. A company called 3D Art Inc. manufactures the statues for the LDS Church and oversaw Tuesday's three-hour replacement effort.

Contrary to rumors that the statue damage was the result of an nonfunctioning or inappropriate grounding system, the lightning rod was able to channel the brunt of the strike and ground it without incident inside the temple. An absent or ineffective grounding system would result in damage to the temple's electrical system and components and be a safety threat to those inside. But workers did install an additional cable extending from the trumpet bell to counter any future arcing. It was excessive arcing which discolored the statue.

The LDS Church reports that during the two-month open house for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple from June 1st though August 1st, nearly 590,000 visitors toured the facility, some more than once. During the last week alone, 100,000 visitors showed up. Some 800 volunteers were needed each day at the temple grounds. Many labored inside the temple, sharing with visitors their testimonies of eternal families and the blessings of the restored gospel. Others worked outside the temple, passing out cookies in the hospitality tent or slapping on sunblock while fulfilling parking duty assignments. Not all volunteers were active LDS; some were Jack Mormons, and a few were actually non-members. All were helpful and their services appreciated.

"Moroni" Gets Struck By Lightning Atop The LDS Oquirrh Mountain Temple In South Jordan, Utah

Update August 11th: Statue replaced; see updated post HERE.


The statue of Moroni atop the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' new Oquirrh Mountain Temple in South Jordan, Utah, is not as "bright and delightsome" as it once was. It appears to have taken a lightning strike during a bout of heavy thunderstorms which rumbled through the Salt Lake Valley.

Steve Allison, a resident of South Jordan who lives near the temple, said lightning was dropping in the area Saturday and Sunday (June 13-14), and it was obvious lightning had struck the temple's unofficial lightning rod. "(The Angel) is the only thing up there, Daybreak is pretty flat," Allison said. "Saturday afternoon we were getting big strikes, one shook the house and knocked the power out." One source estimates there were 6,000 to 8,000 lightning strikes in the Salt Lake Valley on Saturday alone. KSL Channel 5 news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Northern Utah has been battered by showers and thunderstorms all month as the normal high pressure center setting up over the West has not materialized. Precipitation has been recorded on seven days during the month so far. Minor flooding in Herriman and Grantsville has been recorded, and a street opened up and swallowed a backhoe in Sandy. Rainfall for the month already surpassed normal at 1.02 inches. June precipitation averages .77 of an inch.

The incident is not expected to impact the open house currently in progress at the temple, where members of the public are allowed to tour the facility. The last day of the open house is August 1st, after which the temple will be formally dedicated. Admission is free but reservations are required; visit the LDS website for more information.