Police arrest man connected to ‘Sneaker Con’ fatal shooting, more suspects outstanding
Sep 4, 2022, 2:08 PM | Updated: May 21, 2023, 4:31 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — One of the men involved in the fatal shooting outside the Salt Palace Convention Center is in police custody as of Sunday.
Deng Buk, 22, is allegedly a part of the group that shot and killed 41-year-old Deliford Knight of Florida on Saturday at approximately 3:19 p.m., according to Salt Lake City police.
Friends of Knight told police they travel across the U.S., where they attend sneaker events and play “shell games” to defraud people out of money. They flew to Salt Lake City to attend “Sneaker Con” at the Salt Palace.
Detectives have arrested a 22-year-old man for his alleged role in a deadly shooting outside the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown.
There are still others wanted as part of this investigation.
Press release: https://t.co/f62LYs4TIE#SLC #SLCPD #SaltLakeCity pic.twitter.com/TG1j8fenax
— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) September 4, 2022
According to arrest documents, one of the murder suspects lost money to Knight because of the shell game, became angry, and followed him to 150 South West Temple.
Buk and two other suspects started to fight with Knight and tried to get their money back when the shooter pointed the gun at Knight’s chest and chased him until he fell to the ground. The shooter kicked Knight and shot him in the chest.
The shooter and the second suspect took items from Knight’s pockets like a cell phone and cash and fled the area, according to police.
Buk did not take any items and ran away with the second suspect to a parking garage, where they both left in a vehicle. The shooter fled east, and it’s unclear if he was in the vehicle with the other suspects.
Knight was transported to a local hospital, where he died from the gunshot wound, according to police.
Police were able to find Buk at a home in the area of 1500 West High Avenue and issued a search warrant with SWAT. He was arrested without further issue.
Buk admitted to being involved in the fight and attempted to hide his identity by cutting his hair.
SneakerCon issued a statement through social media addressing the fatal shooting and distancing itself from both groups’ activities.
“The altercation was not affiliated with our Sneaker Con event, nor did the suspected three-shell Monte orchestrators attend our event,” reads the statement.
Buk was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for murder and aggravated robbery.
Police continue to ask anyone with information about this case to call 801-799-3000.
