MAGNA, Utah, April 28, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — Salt Lake City police have identified both the victim and an alleged suspect in a Salt Lake City murder; the latter was taken into custody after a 12-hour SWAT standoff at a Magna apartment complex overnight.
“William Henry Clark, 33, has been arrested for the April 26 murder of Ryan Prendergast, 21,” said a tweet from Salt Lake City Police Department on Wednesday morning. “Our condolences go out to Ryan’s family and friends.”
The standoff at the Oquirrh Hills Apartments, near 8400 W. 2900 South, started about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, after police received a tip that the suspect in a Monday morning murder at 900 S. 500 West was hiding in one of the residences.
Multiple units from SLCPD, followed by the SWAT team, began staging in the apartment complex’s parking lot.
Throughout the afternoon and into the night, negotiators were in contact with Clark, who police say was inside the apartment with a teenage son.
Despite telling negotiators he wanted to surrender, Clark, and his son, refused to come out, police said.
As the evening wore on, Unified Police assumed command, while negotiators continued to prompt the suspect to end the standoff peacefully.
About 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, the standoff came to an end when the SWAT team used tear gas to drive the suspect and his son from the apartment. Both were taken into custody after receiving medical attention on scene for exposure to the gas.
According to SLCPD investigators, the entire chain of events began when officers were called to a shooting at 500 West 900 South about 5 a.m. Monday. When police arrived, they found Prendergast fatally wounded.
Witnesses told investigators Prendergast had been staying at a nearby homeless encampment and that a sedan seen in the area may have been involved in the shooting.
Gephardt Daily will update the story as more information becomes available.
