Utah felon accused of drive-by shooting faces federal charges

Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Courthouse, Salt Lake City. Photo: Gephardt Daily/Patrick Benedict

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 17, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging a convicted felon with new gun and drug crimes.

The charges come a month and a half after the defendant allegedly committed a drive-by shooting in Salt Lake County, Utah, and fled from police the following day.

According to court documents, 30-year-old Cody Charles Burningham, of Salt Lake City, is accused of committing a drive-by shooting in Millcreek on June 3 of this year. The next day, multiple law enforcement agencies witnessed Burningham driving a vehicle in Kearns.

“Detectives attempted to stop Burningham, but he fled, driving through residential areas at a high rate of speed,” says a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Utah.

“After detectives were able to spike the tires of the vehicle, he took off on foot. Burningham was taken into custody without incident. Shortly after the chase, a loaded HS Produkt XD45 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol was recovered.

“According to the complaint, prior to June 4, 2024, Burningham was convicted by the Utah Third District Court for multiple crimes including possession of a firearm by a restricted person.”

Burningham is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of Alpha PHP (bath salts) with intent to distribute, the statement says

“His initial appearance on the indictment is July 18, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by a West Valley City Police Detective and a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

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