SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 1, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — A West Valley City juvenile booked into detention after a 2023 shooting death in Salt Lake City has now been formally charged as an adult.
Jordan William Fisher, 17, has been formally charged by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office with alleged:
- Murder, a first-degree felony
- Purchase, transfer, possession or use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony
- Possession or use of controlled substances (marijuana), a class B misdemeanor
Fisher and a second teen, both 15 at the time, were arrested after the fatal shooting of Rory Swimm, 23. A third teen was questioned.
Salt Lake City police responded to a report of shots fired and a man down on Oct. 13, 2023. The scene was near 200 South and 600 East.
“Upon his arrival, Officer Matteau observed three males on the ground, attempting to administer aid to a fourth, unresponsive male who was subsequently identified as R.S. (age 23),” Fisher’s affidavit says. “Officer Matteau observed blood on the outside of R.S.’s shirt and located a gunshot wound on the right side of R.S.’s chest after removing his shirt.”
R.S., Rory Swimm, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A young adult witness told officers that he and friends, including Swimm, had been at a bar that evening before they headed to the 7-Eleven at 414 E. 200 South. The witness said the group had a brief interaction with three juveniles in a white SUV before the juveniles drove away.
The witness said as the group of young adults was walking home, the juveniles returned in the SUV and confronted the group, Fisher’s arrest documents say. The witness said he didn’t want to be in the confrontation, so skateboarded away, but saw the juveniles park the SUV and get out.
The witness said he saw a White juvenile produce a firearm and shoot a single shot, Fisher’s arrest document says.
A second young adult witness said the juvenile suspects ran back to their vehicle, and he and others friends realized Swimm was down.
Fisher, whose image was caught on a convenience store surveillance camera, was later identified by a photo on his social media account, the statement says. His family residence was searched and a gun was located, as was marijuana, the probable cause statement says.
Another juvenile interviewed in the case, in the presence of his parents, said he, the SUV driver and Fisher encountered the group of young adults who, he said, were intoxicated. The SUV’s driver returned because he was upset that one of the young adults had spit on his mother’s vehicle, Fisher’s affidavit says.
That witness said he didn’t know that Fisher was armed and, when questioned, Fisher told him he had shot into the air.
Dr. Brent Davis, of the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office, said in a statement that the manner of R.S.’s death would be ruled a homicide. According to Fisher’s charging document, “Dr. Brent Davis further stated that the cause of R.S.’s death was a single gunshot wound to the chest.”
