Racism is hard to prove. Discrimination is hard to prove. And yet, the fact that it's hard to prove doesn't mean (A), that it doesn't exist, or (B), we can't figure out that it's there. – Randall Edwards, attorney for Hunt's family

SALT LAKE CITY — The Saratoga Springs Police Department released Friday the names of two officers involved in a shooting that killed 22-year-old Darrien Hunt last week.

Saratoga Springs Police Cpl. Matt Schauerhamer and officer Nicholas Judson were identified as the officers that confronted Hunt on the morning he was killed.

Schauerhamer has worked for the Saratoga Springs Police Department for 4 ½ years and worked 3 ½ years previously at another agency, according to Saratoga Springs Police Chief Andy Burton.

Schauerhamer has also been employed by the American Fork Police Department, according to American Fork Police Lt. Sam Liddiard.

Judson has been a police officer for less than one year, according to Burton.

The investigation into what caused the shooting continues to be led by the Utah County Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol Team through the Utah County Attorney's Office, an effort independent of the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

Both Schauerhamer and Judson are on paid administrative leave, and both have received threats from people upset by the shooting, the chief said.

"We as a police department and as a city want to reiterate our sympathies to the family," Burton said. "We know it's a difficult time for them. It's been a difficult time for us. We certainly don't take this situation lightly. We take it very seriously, and it's been a difficult time for everybody."

Growing controversy

Controversy over the shooting death of Hunt intensified Friday after more allegations were made against the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

Randall Edwards, an attorney for Hunt's family, said several people have recently approached the family and recounted experiences with Saratoga Springs officers that they believe were based on racial profiling.

"The information that we have is that we have a police department that is somewhat out of control," Edwards said at a press event Friday. "We have become aware of numerous complaints of excessive use of force and other violations of the civil rights of the Saratoga Springs residents."

Edwards also announced plans to request an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI into the Saratoga Springs Police Department, as well as the shooting death of Hunt, who is black, to determine whether race was a contributing factor.

"Racism is hard to prove. Discrimination is hard to prove," he said. "And yet the fact that it's hard to prove doesn't mean (A), that it doesn't exist, or (B), we can't figure out that it's there."

Burton, who said he welcomes any external investigation, said he's received no official complaints on either Schauerhamer or Judson, nor does the department have a history of racial discrimination.

"This department has, and has had for some time, a very strict policy against racial profiling, and the leadership of this department does not tolerate anything to do with racial profiling. We have a stellar record in that regard," Burton said.

The chief added that allegations of excessive force were "unfounded" and "absurd." Peace officers are required to complete 40 hours of annual training to be certified, and last year, each officer in the department averaged 280 hours of training, he said.

"I've been extremely impressed with the caliber of people we have here," he said. "It is (an) extremely professional, extremely competent group of men and women that serve in this police department, and the leadership is top-notch. … This department is by far not anywhere close to being out of control."

Ongoing investigation

The shooting occurred on Sept. 10 when Hunt was carrying a Katana sword in the area of Crossroads Boulevard and Redwood Road in Saratoga Springs. A confrontation with two officers began near a credit union, where one shot was fired, though it's unclear whether Hunt was struck, according to investigators. Hunt was later shot and killed about 200 yards away near a Panda Express restaurant.

Family members say they believe Hunt was costume playing, or "cosplaying," when he encountered the officers. Edwards described cosplaying as dressing up as an animation character. The family says Hunt had an affinity for anime, a style of Japanese animation, and for drawing anime characters.

At Friday's press event, Edwards presented a picture of an anime character he believes Hunt may have been impersonating. Prior to the shooting, Hunt was seen wearing a large red shirt and dark pants, with Afro-style hair and a sword strapped to his back, similar to an anime character called Samurai Champloo.

Before comparisons between Hunt and the anime character surfaced on social media, family members had no reason for why Hunt brought the sword with him that morning.

"We believe that it is entirely possible, even probable," that Hunt was imitating the anime character, Edwards said.

The Utah County Attorney's Office released a picture of the sword Hunt was carrying, which appears to be more than 3 feet long with a pointed tip.

Police say Hunt brandished the sword, which was unsheathed, and lunged at the officers, which led to the shooting. Edwards, however, says an independent autopsy shows Hunt was shot six times in the back, possibly while running away.

Tim Taylor, chief deputy Utah County Attorney, said about 30 officers are assisting in the investigation daily and that a "couple dozen" witnesses still need to be interviewed. Toxicology and medical examiner's reports are several weeks away from completion, he said.

Susan Hunt, Darrien Hunt's mother, expressed frustration from knowing little about what happened to her son.

"All I see is my son being murdered and nobody wanting to come forward," she said. "The police department hasn't shared anything with me except literally keeping my son away from me and not even allowing me to go to his side where he was bleeding. … I wanted to see my son, and they wouldn't allow it, nor would they tell me anything."

Investigators were also examining surveillance videos from several businesses in the area, but Taylor declined to explain what has been learned from the footage so far.

"There's a lot of individuals who are committed to completing this investigation as fast as possible," Taylor said. "Our goal is that we have most of the investigation completed by the time the medical examiner's report comes back to us. … Once we get (that) report, then we can incorporate that into our investigation and make a conclusion at that point."

Contributing: Nkoyo Iyamba, Ashley Kewish

Email: mjacobsen@deseretnews.com, Twitter: MorganEJacobsen