KEARNS, Utah, June 6, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Unified Police officials are asking for help identifying three people of interest in the shooting death Wednesday of a man in Kearns.
The victim has been identified as 34-year-old John Herman Tonga, a Midvale resident. Another man was treated at a local hospital.
The UPD released a request late Thursday morning:
“The Unified Police Department is seeking identifying persons of interest from the homicide/shooting in Kearns on June 5, 2019,” a statement said. “Attached are photos of three individuals and two vehicles. These are persons of interest in this case.
“Anyone with any information on the suspects is asked to contact the Unified Police Department at 801-743-7000.”
Background
Police responded at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to a report of shots fired, Unified Police Department Sgt. Melody Gray told Gephardt Daily. Officers responded to the area of 4819 S. 4720 West.
“When officers arrived they found a male in the front yard who was deceased, and in addition there was another male who was leaving the scene as officers arrived,” Gray said on Wednesday. That individual is currently being questioned by officers.”
“We are questioning him to see if he had any involvement or knows what happened here,” Gray added.
About 10 minutes after the first call, a second call came in to Unified police from St. Mark’s Hospital ER in Taylorsville saying a man had arrived there with a gunshot wound.
“We later determined that that male was at the house when he was shot as well,” Gray said.
That man is in serious condition. The incident remains under investigation.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
