SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 23, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A 34-year-old woman is facing an attempted murder charge after police say she shot her ex-husband Friday night inside a Salt Lake City business during a child custody dispute.
Sarah Huda Elias, 34, was arrested at 2:35 a.m. Saturday for investigation of:
- Attempted murder, a first-degree felony
- Domestic violence in the presence of a child, criminal homicide, a third-degree felony
The father of the two children, identified in court documents as M.E., called Salt Lake City police on Friday, and “requested police assistance regarding a custody dispute with his ex-wife, Sarah Elias. M.E. travelled to Salt Lake City, UT, from Wyoming for his court ordered parent time with his two children, according to court documents.
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Patrick Benedict
“Sarah, however, would not answer M.E.’s phone calls or respond to his messages. M.E. later responded to a place that Sarah frequented with their children, and located Elias and the two children, and located her and the children.”
Next, dispatch “received another call from M.E. stating his ex-wife just drew a weapon on him. Seconds later, loud screaming is heard and the call disconnects.”
Police responded to a commercial indoor playground Kids’ Empire at 1082 S. 300 West, where the man had located Elias and their children.
“The Salt Lake City Police Dispatch center received additional calls from the same location stating a man had just been shot and the suspect was still on scene. The suspect was described as the victim’s ex-wife, a woman with shoulder length hair, wearing a black jacket, black sweats, and a black hat with black or brown hair. The involved gun was described as a black handgun.
“Witnesses described Sarah arriving at the Salt Lake City establishment acting weird and distracted. Sarah is a regular visitor to this establishment and is known to be very talkative. While speaking with employees today, Sarah received a call and she said to the caller, ‘You can just take me to court.’ Sarah abruptly disconnected.
“Sarah also told employees he was probably at her house. Sarah went on to exhibit odd behaviors. Sarah approached an employee and advised them where she lived, where her keys were located, and provided them her door code in case something happened.”
Sarah Elias was quiet, and was seen pacing back and forth throughout the establishment, her arrest document says.
“Sarah looked out the window(s) constantly, as if looking for someone. M.E. arrived to the establishment and parked directly in front. Sarah immediately turned to her daughter and an employee and eerily smiled and said ‘It’s showtime.’ Sarah’s face immediately returned to it’s blank or neutral look like it had earlier with little to no emotion or expression.”
Sarah Elias and M.E. spoke outside, out of the view of witnesses, her arrest document says.
“Some time later, M.E. walked into the establishment and told an employee that she had pulled a gun on him and told them to call 9-1-1. Sarah walked inside seconds later and approached M.E. who was standing near the employee. Sarah fiddled with something in her waistband and withdrew a black handgun.
“Sarah pointed the gun at M.E. and fired more than one shot into his chest area. M.E. began yelling that she had just shot him. According to witnesses, Sarah and M.E.’s minor children, were both inside the establishment when the shooting occurred and heard and/or saw the shooting take place.”
Other children and adult were present in the establishment, “and heard and/or saw the shooting and its aftermath,” the arrest document says.
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Patrick Benedict
Surveillance footage from the business showed Sarah walking inside, “fiddling with something in her waistband area, extending her arms out and then at least two gunshots are heard, followed by lots of screaming. M.E. is observed crouching down yelling Help me!, and She just f***ing shot me!'”
M.E. was rushed to a local hospital and into surgery for critical injuries, the statement says.
“Sarah was found to have ammunition in her pant pocket(s) and an empty gun holster in her waistband,” her arrest document says. “A black handgun and two spent shell casings were located at the scene.”
Lt. Cody Lougy of the Salt Lake City Police Department told Gephardt Daily someone on scene had disarmed Sarah Elias prior to the arrival of police. SLCPD investigators interviewed witnesses and employees at the scene.
Elias is being held without bail.
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Patrick Benedict
