*Video contains graphic language
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, June 13, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Police are searching for a juvenile they say opened fire on four people inside a car outside a West Valley City apartment complex Thursday.
The shooting happened just after 10 a.m. while police were already responding to reports of a loud argument at 2531 S. Lake Crest Drive.
“When officers were still en route they were advised that there were shots fired in the argument,” Lt. M.T. Johnson, West Valley City Police Department, told reporters at the first scene. “They were also advised there was a black BMW leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. One of the officers that was in the area happened to see that BMW going out, and attempted to stop that vehicle.
“The vehicle fled from him. At that point, within half a mile of initiating the pursuit, the vehicle blew a tire and had to pull over to the side of the road, and the occupants surrendered. Four people were in that vehicle, one of which had a gunshot wound to the butt.”
Officers at the first scene say a black male in a red sweatshirt — identified as juvenile Thursday night — had been arguing with the males in the BMW. As things grew heated the juvenile pulled a handgun and fired several rounds into the car before it sped off, police said.
A man named Mark was at the scene near 1900 S. Redwood where the black BMW stopped after losing a tire, and was approached by officers.
“I was just chilling, smoking on my break, just relaxing, next thing I know I hear cop cars,” said Mark, who preferred not to give his last name. “I was thinking it was an accident. I come out I see about two, three officers police officers gun pointed at a car, I think, ‘Oh, damn, this is not good.’ I was like, ‘Someone’s going to get shot.'”
Officers with guns drawn were looking at the car, Mark said, yelling, “‘Get out the car, get out the car, get the f*** out the car,’ yelling left and right. And I’m thinking, ‘Oh, man.'”
One male in the car was yelling that his brother had been shot, Mark said.
“While I’m watching them at gunpoint, I’m taking a video of it, watching the dude on the floor, next thing you know, yelling, ‘Whoever is in the car, get the f*** out, hands up.'”
Mark said one man limped out of the car, “barely standing up, almost falling. Cops say ‘Get up, get your hands up,’ and he was like clearly falling, and I’m like ‘The cops are going to shoot this dude.'”
In all, four males exited the car and were taken into custody without incident.
Johnson said that the male in the BMW who had been shot had, “one minor gunshot to his butt cheek.” That person was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Johnson said, to the best of his knowledge, no shots had been fired at the second scene, on Redwood Road.
Investigators are still trying to determine what happened during the exchange at the first scene, Johnson said. Search warrants are likely to be sought for the residence and the BMW, he said.
In addition to the juvenile wanted for the shooting, police say they are looking for the people who drove from the scene in a 2000 Mercedes ML3 — Utah plate OD5RR.
The driver who fled police in the BMW will likely be charged for that offense, but any other charges are unknown at this point of the investigation, Johnson said, adding that he did not know if the altercation was gang related.
