Utah police officer killed; 3 suspects in custody

(CNN) — A Utah police officer was hit by a vehicle and killed early Sunday morning while trying to apprehend three people suspected of stealing a car, police said.

The three suspects are in custody, according to police in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City.

The slain officer has been identified as 25-year-old Cody Brotherson, Police Chief Lee Russo said in a statement.

“Our hearts are heavy with his loss,” the department tweeted.

Sen. Orrin Hatch tweeted that “Utah lost a hero today.”

Brotherson has been with the West Valley police force since December 2013, the statement said. He grew up in West Valley City and leaves behind a fiancee, two brothers and his parents, the statement said.

According to the statement, officers witnessed three people heading to an apartment complex and stealing a car from the parking lot. The suspects fled and police pursued the car.

Brotherson was outside of his vehicle attempting to deploy tire spikes when he was hit by the suspects in the vehicle, the statement said.

This is the first death in the line of duty for the West Valley Police Department since the department was formed in 1980, according to the statement.

CNN’s Samira Said and Tony Marco contributed to this report.