A six hour standoff ended early Sunday morning when police shot and killed a Utah man who had taken a woman and a boy hostage after violating a protective order, KSL reported.

Tooele Police Lt. Jeremy Hansen said that the man, who has not been identified, released the boy “several hours” before the situation ended.

The woman was transported to a hospital via ambulance with serious injuries, Police Chief Ron Kirby said, but he could not detail the injuries.

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Kirby told KSL that a family member called police at about 9 p.m. Saturday to report the protective order violation, and police responded to the parking lot of a strip mail. When officers arrived, he took the hostages.

At about 3 a.m., police shot and killed the man “to protect the woman and themselves,” Kirby said.

“Ultimately,” the chief said, “he chose to go for his gun when officers were right there confronting him.”

Kirby said the Utah Department of Public Safety is investigating.

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