Police Searching For Suspect In Deadly SLC Shooting

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Police have asked for the public’s help to identify the suspect involved in a deadly shooting at a house party in Salt Lake City.

It’s the scenic view that usually takes center stage in the neighborhood on 1700 South, but that was not the case Friday night.

“There’s a party going on and the whole street was lined with cars,” said Aaron Pedersen.

That’s when Pedersen said things across the street got out of hand.

“They started yelling and I heard about seven to eight gun shots and I booked it in the house for cover,” he said. “I grabbed my rifle and I called the police.”

Pedersen said people fled in all directions.

“How many people were here last night? Probably 50-60,” he said.

He said one of the cars caught his attention when it bumped into a brick wall.

“Car trying to escape here, a lime green Dodge Challenger,” said Pedersen.

Pedersen then witnessed something that caused him to call 9-1-1 again.

“Some guy started yelling to call the police because there was somebody in there bleeding,” he said.

Pedersen said it took first responders more than 10 minutes to arrive.

Police said the victim, who was later identified as 19-year-old Malik Saeed, was rushed to the hospital, but did not survive.

“I saw the stretcher coming out,” said Pedersen.

As Pedersen continues to process the tragedy, he said the incident underscores the problems police are facing with staffing shortages.

“People crying, ‘Defund the Police,’ you know, there are so many officers that are quitting or understaffed,” he said. ‘They can’t patrol everything at once.”

It seems the home where the shooting took place is an AirBnB rental, but police don’t suspect the homeowners were involved.

In the meantime, Pedersen told KSL-TV that several party-goers were wearing what looked like red sports jerseys.

Anyone with information has been asked to call SLCPD at 801-799-3000.