TREMONTON, Utah — Prosecutors are moving forward with plans to seek the death penalty for a man charged in the fatal shootings of two police officers last weekend. Court documents reveal that Ryan Michael Bate, 30, faces 20 criminal charges, including two counts of capital murder.

The tragic incident unfolded when officers from the Tremonton-Garland Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance at Bate’s residence. According to reports, Bate’s wife called 911 multiple times, indicating she needed assistance after suffering physical abuse. She recounted to authorities that Bate had violently attacked her, slamming her head against a door and choking her. She also informed officers that he had made repeated threats to take her life.

In the course of the response, Bate allegedly used a high-powered rifle against the officers, resulting in the deaths of Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada. A nearby sheriff’s deputy, Mike Allred, along with his police K-9, Azula—who is a three-year-old Belgian Malinois—arrived at the scene as backup and sustained injuries in the shooting incident. Bate was eventually persuaded by bystanders to surrender, after which he was taken into custody.

This incident isn’t Bate’s first encounter with law enforcement; he was previously arrested on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence last year, although those charges were later dismissed. Following the recent events, he faces additional counts related to assault and domestic violence, alongside the murder and attempted murder allegations.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed his support for prosecutors’ decision to seek the death penalty in this case, deeming it appropriate given the severity of the crimes involved. This case has stirred significant public concern around issues of domestic violence and police safety, prompting discussions regarding the protections available to victims in high-risk situations.

As of late Thursday, no attorney had been assigned to represent Bate in his upcoming court proceedings. The legal process is expected to unfold in the coming weeks as the community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating incident.