Prosecutors to seek death penalty for man accused of killing 2 police officers in Utah
August 21, 2025
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for a man accused of fatally shooting two police officers in northern Utah last weekend. Ryan Michael Bate has been charged with capital murder and other crimes in the shooting deaths of Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada. The Box Elder County Attorney’s Office filed a notice to the court late Wednesday that it plans to seek the death penalty for Bate. Police say Bate killed the officers while they were responding to a domestic disturbance call at his home. A sheriff’s deputy and a police K-9 also were injured in the shooting. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he thinks it is appropriate for prosecutors to seek the death penalty.