Jury finds man responsible of aggravated homicide in 2019 killing of Provo officer

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PROVO — An eight-person jury discovered Matt Frank Hoover responsible of aggravated homicide on Friday after listening to testimony in a multiweek trial on prices that he shot and killed a Provo police officer.

Joseph Shinners was shot whereas making an attempt to arrest Hoover, who had warrants out for his arrest, on Jan. 5, 2019, in entrance of the Mattress Tub & Past in Orem. Hoover was additionally shot through the incident.

The jury — which started deliberating shortly after 1 p.m. and got here again with a verdict about 4 hours later — was given the choice to search out Hoover responsible or not responsible of aggravated homicide, as he’s charged, or responsible or not responsible of a lesser cost: homicide, manslaughter or negligent murder.

Hoover, 45, was charged with aggravated homicide, a first-degree felony. It was initially charged as a capital offense however modified after prosecutors determined to not search the demise penalty. The jury additionally discovered him responsible of possession of a harmful weapon as a restricted individual, a second-degree felony; and failure to cease on the command of police and drug possession, third-degree felonies.

Throughout closing arguments, protection lawyer Mary Corporon instructed the jury to mark the opposite counts as responsible. She stated the one factor Hoover is contesting is the aggravated homicide cost and he or she argued that even a lesser cost of homicide would not apply on this case. She stated her shopper acted recklessly, however shouldn’t be responsible of homicide.

“Nobody would ever dispute officer Shinners must be alive at this time … however the regulation requires that you just take a look at these directions in regards to the distinction between a figuring out and intentional killing of a police officer and a … scenario that went horribly awry for a complete number of causes,” Corporon stated.

She spoke about testimony from a number of officers who talked about a chaotic scene or did issues they usually would not, like leaving a automobile in gear and remembering issues incorrectly. She stated the incident was likewise chaotic and aggravating for Hoover as nicely.

She stated every part related occurred in a really tight place, within the cab of the truck — which at one level had 5 individuals not less than partially inside.

Corporon stated Hoover was attempting to shoot himself after he realized he was caught. She stated the killing of the police officer was a “tragic consequence” of the poor choices of a suicidal man.

Deputy Utah County lawyer Timothy Taylor instructed jurors that Hoover may very well be seen transferring his hand up within the truck cab earlier than the shot is fired.

“When he has the unobstructed use of his arm, he pulls that gun out, shoots,” Taylor stated.

The prosecutor stated there is no such thing as a doubt that Shinners was shot by one other individual, and Hoover is the one one who had a gun in his hand. He additionally stated there is no such thing as a doubt the bullet that killed Shinners got here from Hoover’s purple Ruger handgun, which he inspired the jury to deal with and see that the set off on the gun requires “a deliberate pull.”

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The lawyer additionally stated there is no such thing as a doubt Hoover acted deliberately and knowingly — not less than certainly one of which is required for a conviction of aggravated homicide.

Taylor talked about issues Hoover had shared on Fb earlier that day demonstrating his mindset — his dislike of police and a need for violence. He stated there is no such thing as a proof pointing to the protection’s declare that the officer’s demise was an tried suicide gone flawed.

“This case is just not about suicide, this case is about murder,” he stated.

Deputy Utah County lawyer Chad Grunander cited the identical social media posts and stated there’s a “mountain of motive” within the case, which isn’t required to convict somebody of homicide however may be useful for a jury.

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