SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 15, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — One man is being held on felony charges without bail and a second was released on $5,000 bond after agreeing to return to face a misdemeanor charge after a large brawl and a shooting early Saturday morning outside a stretch of popular bars in downtown Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City police responded about 1:15 a.m. to a report of a shooting near 200 South and 200 East and found a man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The victim was transported to an area hospital with injuries considered life-threatening, and was rushed into surgery, according to documents later filed in the arrest of Angelo Mark Garcia.
“Additional officers located multiple witnesses on scene,” the document says. “Witnesses on scene reported that a fight had taken place between approximately 20 people inside the bar located at 165 E. 200 South.”
The venue at that address is Johnny’s SLC.
“The fight then spilled outside of the bar on the sidewalk when a male wearing a white shirt and blue hat who was involved in the fight pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds. One witness on scene stated that he observed a male wearing a blue hat, a black sling bag, and white shirt with a gun in his hand. He then observed the male with the gun fire multiple rounds into the air and then pointed the gun to the East and fired additional rounds.
“The witness then observed the shooter walk in the middle of the intersection at 200 S. 200 E. and yell out gang references at the victim, specifically, ‘Avenues’ which I know from experience to be a violent street gang.”
The witness said the man, later identified as Garcia, 40, got into a white SUV and fled the scene.
Minutes later, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper located a vehicle matching the witness’s description near the scene, made a traffic stop, and “observed blood on the clothing of both the male driver and female passenger, indicating to him they had been in a fight,” Garcia’s arrest document says. The man had clothing like that described by the witness.
Gang detectives were approved for a warrant for the SUV, “where a firearm was located under the passenger seat and also recovered a blue hat and black sling bag as described by the witness. Video surveillance also showed a male wearing the exact clothing” described by the suspect and found on and with Garcia, the statement says.
“Post-Miranda (Garcia) also admitted to being at the bar where the incident occurred. A records check shows the AP is a category II restricted person.”
Garcia was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of alleged:
- Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony
- Aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony
- Riot with a dangerous weapon, a second-degree felony
- Prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, category II, firearm, a third-degree felony
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Samuel Price
The second man police arrested was Joshua Jesus Daniel Martinez, 22. Martinez was identified as another person who left the bar and was involved in the altercation.
Martinez was described as a man with neck tattoos and no shirt, and he was found with “injuries appearing to have stemmed from an altercation,” his arrest document says. His arrest document also states that Martinez is “a documented and active Avenues gang member.”
A woman who had been found with Garcia said she knew Martinez as “G” or “Gizmo,” and he had been in the bar with her and Garcia. Gephardt Daily cannot find an arrest record for a female taken into custody at the same time by the SLCPD.
Martinez was arrested for investigation of alleged riot, a class A misdemeanor. His bail was set at $5,000. He is no longer listed among current inmates.
