SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 21, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who stabbed five people in a fight involving 10 to 15 others in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday evening has been identified.
Detectives interviewed and booked Christopher Robertson, 30, into jail for three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
“This is the largest stabbing-victim scene that I’ve seen down here,” said Detective Cody Lougy, Salt Lake City Police Department. “When we have four separate stabbing victims, it’s unusual.”
A fifth victim was located after Lougy spoke with reporters.
Robertson had stabbed two men in the chest. One victim was very seriously injured, and one was seriously injured, Lougy said. Two male victims received minor wounds, with one stabbed in the arm. The fifth victim reportedly suffered a slash wound.
“Our officers were dispatched here a little after 6 p.m. this evening on a large fight,” Lougy said, speaking of an area on 500 West in the 200 South block.
“Witnesses and our officers on the scene say that 10 to 15 people were fighting.”
One victim was later found at 916 W. North Temple, after he had been given a ride to McDonald’s. SLCPD was investigating that location as a secondary crime scene.
“Our preliminary investigation revealed that a male white and his girlfriend were down at the shelter area, and some kind of altercation started where he pulled out a large knife and began stabbing people.”
When additional officers arrived, the crowd was chasing the man and his girlfriend down the street. The suspect had lacerations on his head, and, once in custody, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The female believed to be involved in the incident is outstanding at this time. She is described as a 25-year-old Caucasian, 6-feet-2-inches tall with shoulder length blonde/brown hair. She was last seen wearing a purple tank top, blue jeans and grey shoes.
“We’re not sure exactly the motivation for the stabbings or the large fight,” he said. “We’re not sure if it was a robbery gone bad, if it was a drug situation or an assault. We’re not sure of the motives at this point.”
A knife was recovered at the scene, but Lougy said investigators had not yet determined if it was the knife used in the stabbings.
Lougy said his officers had begun looking for surveillance footage and talking to witnesses. The investigation is ongoing, he said.
not sure what the altercation was all about? Drugs, what else? This are has become extremely dangerous and the City sits back and watches.