SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 30, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Salt Lake City Police have released surveillance footage of a scene near the Gateway Mall Sunday that saw more than a dozen people swarm to a crime scene and take items including weapons.
Just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, police were called to the area of 550 W. 300 South on a shots-fired call and report of a hit-and-run collision, according to a news release from the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Officers located Jesse Ray Rakes, 30, on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the hip. Rakes died a short time later at a local hospital.
Salt Lake City Police tweeted Sunday night that Rakes was shot and killed in a “drug deal gone bad.”
His car had rolled and was resting on its roof, according to SLCPD Det. Greg Wilking.
Witnesses told investigators there had been a collision between Rakes’ vehicle and another vehicle, and Rakes was shot after the car rolled, Wilking said.
“Prior to police arriving on scene of the shooting several witnesses reported seeing 15 to 30 subjects enter the crime scene,” the news release said. “The subjects entered the involved vehicle and took items of evidentiary value from the vehicle and the victim. The items of most concern are two to three handguns missing from the crime scene.”
Detectives are asking for anyone with information about the whereabouts of the missing weapons or evidence to please contact the police department.
“They would like to get these guns as evidence for the investigation and off the streets of Salt Lake City,” the news release stated.
Two men who were with Rakes in the car were also arrested; police booked Michael Polk, 34, and Matthew Eyre, 35, into jail for investigation of aggravated robbery.
The three were allegedly trying to rob Daniel Simon and his girlfriend who were in the other car involved in the collision, police said. Simon, 25, is being charged for possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and his girlfriend Natanni Xoumphonphackdy, 25, is being booked for obstruction.
Homicide charges have yet to be filed in the case.
The Police Department asks anyone who may know the location of these weapons or evidence to call 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 #16-159716.
