The Orem Police Department identified 17-year-old Jacob E. Albrethsen as the young man killed Friday during an officer-involved shooting after he reportedly approached officers with a knife. The department confirmed it has spoken with the family regarding the release of his name.
Identity of Deceased Teenager
In a statement released July 19, the Orem Police Department confirmed that Albrethsen was a student at Orem High School. The department noted that the shooting occurred on Friday after the teenager approached officers while wielding a knife.
Police officials expressed condolences for those affected by the event, stating that their thoughts and prayers go out to the involved officers, their families, and the family of Albretrasen. The department described the incident as a tragedy from any perspective.
Support for Students
Following the shooting, the Orem Police Department coordinated with the Alpine School District to provide support for students. The district announced that counselors would be made available to any students who might need assistance following the news of the incident.
The police department noted that significant work remains to be done regarding the investigation and requested continued patience and support from the community during this period.
Investigation Protocols
The incident falls under the classification of an Officer-Involved Critical Incident (OICI). According to the Utah County Attorney's Office, these incidents are defined by Utah Code § 76-2-408 and include police shootings, as well as uses of motor vehicles by officers that result in death or serious bodily injury to another.
Investigations into such critical incidents are handled by one of two specialized OICI Teams. These teams are comprised of law enforcement officers from various agencies throughout Utah County, specifically selecting members whose individual agencies were not involved in the specific incident being investigated.
Role of County Attorney
Once an OICI Team completes its investigation, the findings are turned over to the Utah County Attorney's Office. The County Attorney's Office then performs a meticulous review of the investigation and maintains the authority to conduct additional investigations or request further evidence from the OICI Team if necessary.
The ultimate responsibility for determining whether an officer's actions were legally justified rests with the County Attorney's Office, based on the review of legally admissible evidence.
Reporting Timeline
The Utah County Attorney's Office aims to post findings for OICIs within 180 days after receiving the investigation from the OICI Team. If a delay occurs, the office provides an explanation and an estimate of when the final conclusions will be made available.
As of July 19, 2026, no OICI data has been made available for investigations occurring in 2026.
