2 deputies shot in the head area outside Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office

SALT LAKE CITY  — Two Salt Lake County Sheriff’s deputies and one suspect were involved in a shoot-out Saturday morning outside of the jail.

Deputy Joshua Buerke and Deputy Leland Grossett were performing routine perimeter security of the jail when they came upon the shooter in a grassy area by the sheriff’s office parking lot at 10:29 a.m.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera initially said the Johnson was approximately 30 years old, possibly Hispanic, and may have been a transient before his identity was known. She also added that the jail was put on lockdown.

Both deputies were shot in the head area, Rivera said. Grossett was shot in the eye and is in critical condition. He remained in the hospital and had surgery but did lose his eye. Buerke received a facial injury when a bullet grazed his cheek. He was treated and released from the hospital.

Rivera said in a prepared statement:

The job of law enforcement is becoming more and more dangerous. I am grateful to have deputies like these who are willing to put their lives on the line in the name of public safety.

The names of the two deputies were not immediately released Saturday because some immediate family members have not been located.

“These types of incidents are really devastating for the department,” said Rivera in the conference. “We hope and we pray that our deputies will be OK.”