SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 25, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake County teen believed to have gang ties is in custody after the Aug. 19 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Will Ryan in Magna.
The name of the suspect, who is also 17, has not been released due to his juvenile status. He has been booked into the Salt Lake Valley Juvenile Detention Center on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and felony discharge of a firearm.
The suspect was interviewed after a white 2002 Volkswagen Jetta was recovered Tuesday in Woods Cross, according to information released Friday by the Unified Police Department.
The vehicle, believed to have been used in the drive-by shooting, was seized as evidence. On Thursday, UPD detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit and Metro Gang Unit detained the suspect, who they say is from Salt Lake County and is believed to have gang ties.
The drive-by shooting happened when Ryan and another 17-year-old boy were outside a residence at 8073 W. 3380 South. Ryan, seated on the hood of a car, was shot in the head, and died at the scene.
The other boy, seated inside the car, was hit in his “lower extremities,” according to UPD information, and since has been released from the hospital.
UPD Detective Ken Hansen told Gephardt Daily that two types of shell casings were recovered at the scene, which was proof that at least two types of weapons were used. Hansen said on the night of the shooting that it appeared to be gang-related.
“Further information and details on this case will be limited as the investigation continues,” Friday’s statement from the Unified Police Department says.
“UPD detectives are currently working with other law enforcement agencies in the Salt Lake Valley in the event that this shooting is related to other gang-related shootings in the recent few months.”
