TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Dec. 5, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Taylorsville man was arrested Sunday after officials say he discharged a firearm inside his home.
Christopher James Martinez, 35, is facing charges of third-degree felony aggravated assault threat with a show of force/violence, third-degree felony discharge of a firearm, class B misdemeanor commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child and class B misdemeanor criminal mischief, according to a probable cause statement released by the 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City.
The probable cause statement said that Unified Police Department Taylorsville patrol officers were dispatched to the area of 4830 S. Bayport Way on a domestic in progress Sunday.
“The complainant stated her son was armed with a gun and was shooting it in the house,” the statement said. “The complainant told the call taker there was not anyone injured and that she was in the bathroom. The complainant advised her 17-year-old grandson was in the house and her son was shooting a handgun.” The suspect’s adult brother was also in the house.
The complainant is the owner of the house and the suspect has a bedroom in the basement of the house, the statement said.
“Prior to officers’ arrival, the suspect left the residence with his girlfriend in a vehicle,” the statement said. “The suspect and his girlfriend were later located at her residence in Taylorsville.”
The suspect was in possession of two handguns, a 9mm and .22, which were later given to police. Neither handgun had ammunition in it.
“Officers conducted a protective sweep of the complainant’s address and observed multiple bullet holes to an interior door of the house near the kitchen,” the statement said. “Officers also observed wood splinters in the basement near the suspect’s room. According to the suspect’s family, the suspect discharged an AR-15 in the house previously this week.”
The statement said that all three people inside the house only heard the gunshots but they did not see the suspect shooting the gun. “The complainant believes the suspect was in the kitchen while shooting the gun and the suspect’s adult brother believes the suspect was on the stairs when he shot the gun,” the statement said. “After the shooting the complainant observed the suspect throw an object at a wall and put a hole in it although she
did not know what the object was.”
Martinez was taken into custody and booked into Salt Lake County Jail. His bail has been set at $10,000.
