WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Oct. 26, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — West Valley City Police are investigating after a person was dropped off at an area hospital with minor injuries, then later in the evening a woman was shot in the leg, both following exchanges of gunfire between vehicles.
Lt. Scott Buchanan, West Valley City Police Department, said it is too early to say whether the two incidents are connected.
The first incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., when dispatch received reports of shots fired in the area of Hunter Park at 6000 W. 3600 South.
“Multiple callers reported that individuals in two separate vehicles exchanged gunfire in the parking lot, and then both vehicles left at a high rate of speed,” Buchanan said. “Officers responded to the area and did not locate any victims.
“Both suspect vehicles fled, and at this point, this case is under investigation to determine who was involved and, of course, why. There were a lot of people in the park, and it’s absolutely unacceptable for this conduct to occur in this area or in any other area, but this was particularly egregious. The police department is very concerned that this event took place and, obviously, it will dedicate resources to try and get to the bottom of it.”
Buchanan said police have not received any information about what may have led to the altercation, but witnesses did state the occupants of the cars were arguing and then remained in the vehicles while exchanging gunfire.
Soon after initial reports came in, an individual who appears to have been in one of the suspect vehicles was dropped off at an area hospital. Investigators are at the hospital to see what role that individual played in the incident.
Buchanan added that at approximately 10:30 p.m., police received reports of shots fired in the area of 4800 W. Arlington Park Drive (4700 South). “The report was that there were two vehicles in the area and the occupants of those vehicles exchanged some words and shots were fired between those two vehicles and we believe an occupant of one of those vehicles, an adult female that was sitting in the passenger seat, was shot in the leg, and the people in that car took her to an area hospital, where she is currently being treated,” Buchanan said.
The woman has serious injuries, he added. “We have our investigators out here right now and we are canvassing the area looking for witnesses and otherwise trying to identify the suspects. We have detectives out from the prior case that are still out right now so of course they’re reviewing this case to try and determine whether or not it’s related but as of right now we don’t have any information that can confirm that.
Anyone with more information is asked to call WVCPD at 801-840-4000.
