CRIME
Three dead in West Jordan shooting, one suspect in custody
UPDATE: Police identified the three victims Monday.
“Originally we believed there was some juveniles involved; all of the victims were adult males,” West Jordan Police Officer Alondra Zavala said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
The names of the victims — who are all from Millcreek, Utah — are:
- 18-year-old Fayzan Ali
- 18-year-old Ayash Mohamed
- 20-year-old Mohamed Mohamed
Zavala said during the press conference that they received information the shooting had some sort of gang relation, but she did not release which gangs were involved as the department is still “not entirely sure yet.”
Witnesses then provided information about the vehicle that was involved. Zavala said they later located that vehicle — a white Cadillac.
A warrant was obtained on that vehicle, which allowed officers to verify the driver or who it was registered to. And then a warrant was obtained on the house where the shooting occurred.
“After getting those warrants, we were able to make contact with a juvenile suspect, and that juvenile suspect was arrested and booked into the detention center here in Salt Lake,” Zavala said.
The officer said the suspect is 16 years old, adding that he faces charges of criminal homicide, possession of a firearm by a minor, discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice.
Police are looking at several other suspects at this time, but Zavala said it is unknown how many there actually are.
“We believe all (suspects and victims) are currently involved in gangs,” Zavala said.
Anybody with information about the incident have been encouraged to contact police at 801-840-4000.
Our earlier story continues below.
WEST JORDAN, Utah — Police said three people died after shots were fired at a party in West Jordan Saturday night.
It happened at 3355 West and 6920 South around 10:45 p.m.
Jeremy Robertson, deputy chief of the West Jordan Police Department, said, “At this point, It does look like this shooting was targeted to the party and that it’s probably gang-related.”
One of the victims died at the scene and the two others died in ambulances.
One victim was in a neighbor’s driveway, the other one was in the yard up against the fence, and then the neighbor next to them said there was a body near them.
“Some of the witnesses we talked to reported multiple vehicles, leaving the area and multiple people involved in the shooting,” Robertson said.
A news release said, “Investigators worked through the night and were able to identify a juvenile suspect. The suspect has been taken into custody and items of evidence, including a firearm were recovered.”
More arrests are likely, according to the release.
One of the victims was an adult male with gang ties. Another victim was identified as a juvenile also with gang ties. Police have not been able to identify the third victim but police said he was an “associate” of the other deceased.
“Everyone that was out here just started screaming and running,” said an anonymous neighbor to KSL-TV. “My husband yelled at me to come in he said, ‘get in here those are gunshots'”
Robertson said there was no risk to the general public.
Investigators were still processing the scene into Sunday morning.
West Jordan Police, the Metro Gang Unit, and the State Bureau of Identification are investigating.
