3 men charged in connection to 2018 fatal shooting in SLC parking garage

SALT LAKE CITY – Three men face felony charges concerning a fatal shooting inside the Exchange Place parking garage in 2018.

Francis Lee Ragsdale, 34, Andrew Jorge Thomas, 30, and Latoi Deron Newbins, 28, are suspected of the killing of David Lawrence Burwell, 25, who was fatally shot during a fight between two groups on Sept. 15, 2018, according to court documents.

According to Burwell’s girlfriend, the two of them and a second witness left the Wasted Space club on 342 S. State Street and were confronted by a group of males. The two groups had an altercation, broke it up, and Burwell’s group walked to their car in the Exchange Place parking garage.

Security camera footage from nearby businesses shows the two groups confronting each other outside the club. During the altercation, Thomas lifted his shirt to reveal his waistband, and the two groups separated.

According to court documents, the footage recorded Newbins entering a dark sedan parked in front of the restaurant and parked in front of the Exchange Place parking garage. Ragsdale and another co-defendant, Thalwallkelah Washington, 42, entered the garage a few seconds after Burwell.

When Burwell and his girlfriend arrived at their car, “[the girlfriend] realized two of the people from the altercation on State Street were near a black Mercedes parked on the opposite side of the garage,” documents state.

Meanwhile, the second witness arrived at his car when he heard Burwell’s girlfriend screaming from the lower level of the garage. The witness drove to where the two parked their car and saw two black men near the Mercedes.

According to Burwell’s girlfriend and the second witness, another verbal fight happened, then the Mercedes’s trunk popped open, and Ragsdale grabbed a handgun and began shooting at Burwell. Ragsdale then fled the garage on foot.

Security camera footage revealed Ragsdale was exiting the garage with three other men and fleeing west down Exchange Place. Ragsdale went to the parked sedan where Newbins and Thomas were inside.

According to court documents, security footage and two witnesses noticed Thomas exiting the sedan and firing multiple rounds down the street where the three other men ran. Thomas and Ragsdale got into the sedan and drove away.

When a Salt Lake City police officer arrived at the scene, Burwell was found lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to the chest. Life-saving treatments were attempted, but Burwell died at the scene.

Police found four 9mm casings near Burwell’s body and nine additional 9mm casings outside the main entrance of the parking garage.

Police seek info on suspect in homicide at parking garage

Police learned Ragsdale orchestrated the purchase of a handgun a day before the shooting with $600 cash where a woman sold two handguns, including a 9mm Ruger.

On Sept. 18, 2018, Unified Police used a confidential informant to purchase two firearms from Newbins in Murray. The informant turned over two 9mm handguns that they bought from Newbins, including the 9mm Ruger.

On July, 26. 2019, police matched the two guns to the shell casings used on the night of the fatal shooting, according to court documents.

Ragsdale was charged for the use of a firearm by a restricted person, but is also facing multiple felony counts of discharge of a firearm in other pending cases along with violation of protective order, use of a firearm by a restricted person, and obstructing justice.

Newbins was charged with two counts of obstructing justice and two counts of purchase, transfer, possession, or use of firearm by restricted person. He is also facing multiple felony counts of discharge of a firearm and purchase, transfer, possession, or use of firearm by a restricted person in other pending cases.

Thomas was charged with the use of a firearm by a restricted person and nine counts of felony discharge of a firearm, along with purchase, transfer, possession, or use of firearm by restricted person in other pending cases.

The co-defendant Washington did not have any charges listed against them as of Tuesday.