Utah gunman updated Facebook status during 16-hour standoff, say police

SALT LAKE CITY (CBS/AP) - A Utah gunman made unusual use of Facebook in the middle of a standoff with police, who are now trying to figure out whether there should be additional charges against his social networking friends.

The trouble began when police tried to serve Valdez with a felony drug warrant Friday, June 16 for a missed court appearance.

Valdez, who as a history of aggravated assault and domestic violence, barricaded himself inside the Western Colony Inn with a woman police described as a hostage. Valdez reportedly claimed the woman was with him willingly.

"I'm currently in a standoff ... kinda ugly, but ready for whatever," Valdez wrote in his first post at 11:23 p.m. "I love u guyz and if I don't make it out of here alive that I'm in a better place and u were all great friends."

Valdez's friends and family responded to his posts with over 100 comments.

According to police, Valdez's over-sharing may have even helped him in the tense situation when a friend warned him in a post that a SWAT officer was hiding in the bushes.

"Thank you homie," Valdez replied. "Good looking out."

At 2:04 a.m. on Saurday, Valdez posted two pictures of himself and the woman.

"Got a cute 'Hostage' huh," Valdez wrote of the photographs.

When officers eventually swarmed the room, Valdez shot himself in the chest with a handgun, police said. On Tuesday, he was in critical condition.

Authorities are now discussing whether some of Valdez' friends should be arrested and charged with obstruction of justice for hampering a police investigation with their Facebook posts. "We're not sure yet how to deal with it," said Croyle.

"We're talking about it and trying to figure out how do we address the kind of conflict that it presents," Croyle said.

Valdez could be facing new charges stemming from his actions during the standoff, including firing his handgun at police, Croyle said.