Crime
Ryan Michael Bate Identified as Suspect in Tremonton Shooting That Killed Officers Lee Sorensen and Eric Estrada
TREMONTON, Utah — Authorities have identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting two Tremonton Garland police officers as 33-year-old Ryan Michael Bate, who was booked early Monday into the Weber County Jail on charges of aggravated murder and assault.
The fatal shooting occurred Sunday night, August 17, 2025, after officers responded to multiple 911 hang-up calls around 9 p.m. from a residence near 700 North and 200 East, close to North Park Elementary School.
According to the Brigham City Police Department, the first responding Tremonton Garland officer began speaking with a resident when Bate emerged from the home carrying a firearm and opened fire, killing the officer.
A second officer who had arrived to provide backup was also shot and killed.
A Box Elder County sheriff’s deputy, who had responded with a K-9, was then fired upon when Bate shot into the deputy’s patrol vehicle, injuring both the deputy and the police dog.
Both were later hospitalized and reported in fair condition Monday morning.
Police said bystanders ultimately persuaded Bate to surrender his weapon, after which he was taken into custody. Given the level of violence and uncertainty about additional threats, multiple agencies, including SWAT teams, responded and cleared the residence.
Fallen officers has been identified as sergeant Lee Sorensen and officer Eric Estrada.
Court records reveal that Bate has a history of violent encounters with law enforcement.
In May 2024, Box Elder Police charged him with aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child following a reported family disturbance at the same address where Sunday’s shooting took place.
According to the probable cause statement from that case, Bate broke a chair, grabbed the victim by the throat, threw her onto a couch, and then locked her out of the home.
The report noted that young children and firearms were present in the residence at the time. The victim disclosed that a similar assault had occurred the previous week but had gone unreported because she “wanted to keep her family together.” The charges in that case were later dismissed.
Earlier records also show that Bate faced charges of assault and disorderly conduct in Tremonton City in October 2021, which were likewise dismissed.
In a prepared statement, the Brigham City Police Department described the tragedy as one that has deeply shaken the community:
“Tragedies like these rock an entire community, state, and even nation. These officers and their families served theirs every day, and they will forever be remembered as heroes.”
Weber County officials are now leading the homicide investigation, while Bate remains in custody on aggravated murder charges.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.