WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, August 3, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A 14-year-old male is in critical condition after being shot in the face early Thursday morning in West Valley City.
Police told Gephardt Daily the teen was driven to Pioneer Valley Hospital by three other teenagers about 3:15 a.m.
The teens told police their vehicle was fired on by several people while they were driving near 4000 South and 1500 West.
The wounded teen was flown from Pioneer Valley to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he remains in critical condition Thursday afternoon.
Initially, detectives thought the shooting may be gang-related, but in a later interview, West Valley City Police spokeswoman Roxanne Vainuku said there is nothing to indicate or confirm that this incident is gang-related.
Vainuku said the 14-year-old was one of five people in the vehicle near Kings Point Park when they encountered one or more suspects. At least one gunshot was fired, she said. Only the 14-year-old was injured.
Vainuku said police are working to piece together all the details of exactly what took place and where it all occurred.
Police are talking with witnesses, including the friends of the injured teen, as well as residents who may not realize they have information that could be helpful. Vainuku said officials are hoping people in the neighborhood will think back over anything they may have seen or heard that may have led up to the shooting.
There currently is no description of a suspect or suspects, she said, and police cannot say for sure whether there is a threat to the neighborhood or if this was an isolated incident.
No information was available about the others in the vehicle with the teen.
Gephardt Daily will update the story as more information becomes available.
