On May 28, 2020, a 24-year-old White/Caucasian male named Nathan Lyday was killed in Ogden, Utah, while in the line of duty as a police officer. The fatal encounter began when a woman called 911, reporting that her husband was threatening to kill her. The call was disconnected, and attempts to re-establish contact were unsuccessful, prompting a police response to the home in the 300 block of Jackson Avenue.
Officer Lyday was among the officers who arrived at the residence.
Upon arrival, officers confronted 53-year-old John Benedict Coleman on the front porch of his home. Coleman was uncooperative and retreated into the house, slamming the door. As Officer Lyday and other officers approached the front door, Coleman began firing a rifle through the door and the glass screen door. Lyday, who had his back turned and was discussing the situation with another officer, was struck in the head and died instantly. An Adult Probation and Parole agent who was on the scene was also wounded during the gunfire but survived his injuries.
Other officers on the scene returned fire as they worked to rescue the fallen and injured officers. With the help of ballistic shields, they were able to carry Lyday to medical personnel, and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Following the exchange of gunfire, SWAT teams responded and entered the home approximately 40 minutes later. Inside, they found John Benedict Coleman deceased from a gunshot wound to the head, which investigators later determined occurred during the shootout with police. Several children were found safe inside the residence after the incident.
Nathan Lyday had served with the Ogden Police Department for just 15 months. A native of Ogden, he was a second-generation law enforcement officer and was nearing his fifth wedding anniversary with his wife. The suspect, John Benedict Coleman, had a history of aggressive and threatening behavior, according to neighbors who had called the police on him numerous times in the past.
