SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 17, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the man officials are calling “the suspect” wanted in the homicide that occurred downtown in the early morning hours of Saturday.
Salt Lake City Police said in a news release they would like to locate Francis Lee Ragsdale, 30. Ragsdale is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. This suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, officials said.
Earlier Monday, officials identified the 25-year-old man shot to death during the incident.
The deceased is David Lawrence Burwell, the SLCPD said in a news release Monday morning.
Officials announced Sunday evening they also would like to locate and speak with Thalwallkelah Lamar Washington as a person wanted for questioning. Thalwallkelah goes by his middle name, Lamar, and is 38 years old. He is known to drive a black 2007 Mercedes Benz with California license plate 7XCP832.
The incident occurred just before 12:40 a.m., officials said.
The SLCPD statement said it appears that two groups were involved in an altercation that started in a popular bar called Wasted Space, at 324 S. State St. The altercation continued to a nearby parking garage at 55 E. Exchange Place.
“On the lower-level of the parking garage, a suspect fired several shots and a male victim was struck and was declared deceased at the scene,” the SLCPD statement said. “The suspects fled in a vehicle.”
The investigation is ongoing and at this early stage it’s not known if the two groups were previously known to each other.
Detectives have received information that cellphone video of this incident may have been taken by parties not involved, officials said. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have taken cellphone video to please contact them.
Anyone with information is asked to call the SLCPD on 801-799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637. Please start the text with TIPSLCPD, which routes it to the police department. Then include any relevant information. Reference: case #18-169788.
