WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Dec. 18, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Court documents have identified a 20-year-old man police say shot his older brother during a confrontation in West Valley City Tuesday night, then caused a fatal crash in Magna about an hour later.
Sasa Scott Hamilton, 20, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County jail system, where he is being held without bail.
West Valley City police responded to a report of a gunshot near 3800 W. Rockwood Way at 8:39 p.m., arrest documents say.
“Officers arrived on scene and located the victim, a 26-year-old male identified as C.A., along with three other individuals,” the affidavit says. “C.A. was bleeding rapidly from his left thigh, and was quickly taken to a local hospital for treatment. The three individuals on scene spoke with officers and provided a very similar version of events.”
The witnesses said they and C.A. arrived in a vehicle and parked at the address of the incident. “The vehicle was approached by the (Hamilton), who had a physical altercation with C.A. The witnesses attempted to intervene and pulled the two away from each other.”
Hamilton “then pulled out a handgun and pointed it towards C.A.’s legs before pulling the trigger several times.” Hamilton then left the scene in a white vehicle, says the statement, filed by an officer of the West Valley City Police Department.
“Officers located three .45 caliber shell casings and live cartridges in the area of the incident.”
Hamilton then drove to Magna, where he allegedly ran a red light and was involved in an accident that killed a 34-year-old woman, the affidavit says, adding that the fatal collision case is still under investigation.
A WVCPD officer told Gephardt Daily Tuesday night that the suspect, now identified as Hamilton, fled the Magna scene. Once officers made the connection between the two incidents, they contacted Hamilton on his cell phone, and arranged to take him into custody.
Hamilton “advised officers that he disassembled the firearm and discarded it in several different yards. (He) was interviewed and, Post-Miranda, admitted to being in a physical altercation with his brother, C.A.
Hamilton “advised the witnesses did intervene in the altercation before the (he) pulled a handgun from his bag. (Hamilton) admitted to shooting C.A. an unknown amount of times before fleeing the scene in his vehicle. (He) stated he was later involved in an accident after running a red light. While leaving the area, (Hamilton) said he dismantled the firearm and discarded it in several areas before being taken into custody.”
Hamilton “said he did this because he was scared. Officers recovered a .45 caliber handgun and a black bag in several different locations near where (he) was taken into custody. The accident mentioned by (Hamilton) resulted in the death of a 34-year-old female, which is currently under further investigation.”
Hamilton was booked for investigation of alleged:
- Felony discharge of a firearm, serious bodily injury, listed as a first-degree felony
- Obstruction of justice – Capital/first-degree felony contact, listed as a second-degree felony
- Two counts of felony discharge of firearm – shoot in direction of person, listed as a third-degree felony
Charges and their severity will be determined by the Salt Lake County Attorney’s Office.
West Valley City police said in a Wednesday morning statement that the shooting victim’s condition is stable. The Magna fatal collision will be investigated by the Utah Highway Patrol, the statement added.
