MIDVALE, Utah, Dec. 29, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Three young adults and two juveniles, all suspected gang members, were taken into Unified Police custody Friday night after an initial shots-fired investigation.
A Unified Police supervisor was in the area, near 8550 S. Main, at 7:30 p.m., and heard the shots. Callers also alerted dispatch.
“Multiple shots were heard and the vehicle … a 2020 black Subaru Legacy, was observed fleeing the immediate incident area. Officers attempted to initiate a stop with their marked Unified Police vehicles.”
The driver fled an attempted traffic stop, and police “continued to follow the vehicle throughout Sandy, West Jordan and South Jordan, Utah,” arrest documents say.
“Officers observed occupants of a vehicle, near 7800 South, traveling northbound, discard what appear to be firearms from the passenger side window,” the documents say.
“Officers were close enough to the vehicle, to describe two handguns were thrown from the vehicle by passengers of the vehicle. Forensics responded to Bangerter Highway and did locate at least two firearms/firearm pieces.”
The vehicle continued to flee northward, making a U-turn near 7000 S. Bangerter Highway.
The suspect vehicle struck one bystander vehicle, attempting to leave the scene of the accident, the police statement says.
“Officers were able to disable the vehicle on the onramp to southbound Bangerter Highway. Officers located five occupants in the vehicle who were taken into custody.
“In plain view officers located multiple spent shell casings in the passenger rear of the vehicle floorboard. Officers also observed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the rear passenger door. Officers never lost a visual of the vehicle during the pursuit.”
Witnesses also stated they observed the occupants of the Subaru discharging firearms from the vehicle, arrest documents say.
“At the time of the writing of this statement a total of 20+ spent casings were located near 8250 S. Main St. There are also two additional locations where there are spent casings.”
The occupants of the Subaru were removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.
The adults arrested were Christian Pena Renteria, 19; Luis David Quintana Melo, 20; and Miguel Guzman Garcia, 18. They were all arrested for investigation of alleged crimes of:
- 10 counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony
- Tampering with evidence, a class A misdemeanor
Renteria, the driver, is also being held for investigation of:
- Failure to respond at command of police, a third-degree felony
- Reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor
The two booked into juvenile custody on undisclosed charges are ages 16 and 17.
“Each arrestee was read their Miranda Rights or Juvenile and Miranda Rights. Each arrestee opted to not speak to law enforcement,” the adults’ arrest documents say.
“Each of the above individuals are known gang members.”
The adults were ordered held without bail.
