SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 29, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Salt Lake City police have released the names of the man who died in a shooting Tuesday and the person of interest booked into jail.
The man who died was 42-year-old Thomas Priest. The man in custody for investigation of murder, a first-degree felony, is 59-year-old David Chase.
An affidavit filed in Chase’s arrests also shares his account of what happened, which differs from what witnesses reported regarding a visible threat level from the victim. Chase reported feeling threatened, but witnesses reported no signs of a weapon or threat from Priest.
Timeline
Dispatch received a shooting call Tuesday just after 4 p.m. from a man later identified as Chase, his affidavit says. Chase “indicated he was with the person who had been shot. (Chase) indicated he was the person who had fired. He told the dispatcher the male tried to attack him.”
Chase said he was with Priest’s wife — who is described elsewhere in court documents as Priest’s girlfriend — and they were coming to pick up a trailer. Chase told dispatchers he and Priest’s romantic partner had been “fighting and arguing,” the affidavit says.
Chase told the dispatcher “he thought the victim tried to throw something at him while he was operating his vehicle.” Chase said he pulled over and Priest “just came rushing at me, like just enraged!”
Chase told the dispatcher that, at that point, he pulled his gun and fired at the victim.
Police and paramedics responded to the scene, at 3075 W. Decade Drive, in the city’s Glendale neighborhood. Chase remained at the scene, his affidavit says. First responders made attempts to save Priest’s life, but he died at the scene. Chase was taken into custody.
“Officers located a 9mm firearm on the scene as well as 9mm casings and rounds,” Chase’s arrest document says. They noted blood on Chase’s hands.
Post Miranda, Chase told SLCPD detectives he had met Priest about two months earlier, and helped him move a trailer.
Chase said that, earlier that day, “the victim called him on the phone and was ‘going off on me.'” He said Priest “has accused him of sleeping with his girlfriend in the past. (Chase) said the victim was basically making threats.”
Of those alleged threats made Tuesday, Chase said he “could not recall what was said. (Chase) was unable to articulate threats that were made towards him. (Chase) said that the victim’s girlfriend received a text from the victim saying he was going to burn down his trailer.”
Chase told detectives he wanted to get the trailer because he was worried Priest “was going to do something to it,” the affidavit says. Chase said as he and Priest’s girlfriend drove up, “the victim jumped out from behind the trailer and runs at the truck. (Chase) told detectives he should have kept driving. David was not sure if the victim hit the truck with something.”
Chase told investigators he pulled up about 50 feet ahead on the street and parked. He said Priest “came running up. (Chase) told detectives he thought the victim might have something in his hand behind his back. (Chase) also said the victim didn’t have a weapon; the victim’s fists were closed. (Chase) said when the victim reached about three feet from the back of his truck the victim turned his body and (Chase) didn’t know if the victim was going to throw something at him.
Chase “said he was scared and made a snap decision, so he grabbed his gun and fired.”
Priest fell near the back of the truck.
Asked by detectives why he shot Priest, Chase said the victim “was unhinged,” and it seemed like he was going to hurt Chase or Priest’s girlfriend.
Chase “told detectives after the shooting, that the victim’s girlfriend got out of his truck and yelled that he didn’t need to kill him. (Chase) told detectives that the victim’s girlfriend got into his truck and drove off.”
Witnesses’ accounts
A witness interviewed by detectives said they didn’t notice any weapon on the victim.
“The witness stated (Chase) opened the truck door and witnessed (him) obtaining the gun before exiting the vehicle. The witness stated that the victim asked (Chase) if he was going to pull his gun and called (Chase) by name,” the affidavit says. “The witness said (Chase) exited the vehicle with the gun behind his back, then pointed the gun and fired.”
The witness confirmed a female exited the vehicle and was yelling that she couldn’t believe “you f**king killed him,” but said it was Chase who “instructed the female to get into the truck and leave,” which she did.
A second witness told investigators he heard the dark Ford truck “tear down the road,” and noticed the victim walking down the road in the direction of the truck.
“The victim was yelling something like, ‘What the f*ck are you doing.’ As the victim got about a truck length from the rear of the truck, the vehicle driver door flew open, and (Chase) exited the truck and pulled a gun from his waist or back. (Chase) leveled the gun towards the victim who continued to walk towards (Chase). The witness stated it did not look like the victim had any weapons,” the affidavit says.
Chase “then fired four shots, described by the witness as two sets of two shots. The witness said an unknown female approached (Chase) after the shots were fired asking, ‘What did he do and what have you done.’ The female then entered the truck and took off.”
Chase was arrested and jailed. He was ordered held without bail.
