SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 26, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — New details are emerging after a grisly crime spree Tuesday morning that saw a victim beaten to death with a 52-pound paver stone, and three others left with severe head trauma after similar assaults just west of downtown Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City Police officials have booked Keperdo Kegler, 43, into the Salt Lake County Jail on one count of first-degree felony aggravated murder and three counts of second-degree felony attempted murder.
Shortly after 7 a.m., Kegler assaulted two men who were camping under the underpass near 550 W. 500 South, a probable cause statement released Wednesday by Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said. Kegler used a rock to beat the first victim in the head, the probable cause statement said. The suspect then used what what was believed to be a rock to beat the second victim in the head. Both victims were transported to the hospital with severe head trauma.
Kegler then walked to the storage business at 471 W. 500 South where he assaulted another male victim by banging his head while he lay on the ground. During the assault, the suspect yelled “Die, die, die,” the probable cause statement said. The third victim was also transported to the hospital with severe head trauma.
The suspect then walked to the front of the building and behind the fourth male victim, who was sitting at the front doors to the storage business. The suspect used a 52-pound paver stone to beat the victim in the head twice, while screaming “Die [expletive].” The homicide incident was captured on video, the probable cause statement said. The fourth victim died from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
Salt Lake City Police Det. Greg Wilking, speaking at a press conference Tuesday, said the deceased has been identified as 55-year-old Kevin Joseph McCann. Wilking said both the victim and the suspect were listed as being from the Salt Lake City area, but that all those involved are currently “experiencing homelessness.”
He added by all accounts the victims were not known to the suspect, and this appears to be an unprovoked attack. He said McCann “was not standing” at the time of the attack. “He was sitting up and it was a surprise attack,” Wilking said.
The victims that survived are aged, 35, 40, and 58, and have not been identified.
Wilking said it’s too early to tell if the suspect was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but police have collected blood evidence from the suspect.
Salt Lake Police asked anyone who witnessed the assault to contact officials at 801-799-3000.
