CRIME
Shots fired during armed robbery at indoor swap meet, grazing employee
Mar 25, 2023, 7:50 PM | Updated: Mar 27, 2023, 7:21 am
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Shots were fired Saturday evening at an indoor swap meet with dozens of businesses inside.
Police at the scene told KSL TV that at approximately 5:50 p.m. a suspect was armed with a handgun and a hammer and fired shots inside the building.
Mayra Limon said she was inside her mother’s clothing store when the incident took place.
“She was attending some customers and I was just sitting and we heard about four gunshots and my first instinct was to run outside,” Limon said. “People started just coming into the store.”
Police said the suspect stole items and then took off. No one was in custody as of 7 p.m. Saturday.
“There’s a business called El Dia Monte, that’s where the robbery had occurred. The suspect had brought a hammer with and a handgun and he shattered some of the cases that have jewelry and had taken… I believe a laptop and some jewelry,” Lt. Jason Vincent with the West Valley City Police Department said.
He is described as an adult Hispanic male, Spanish speaking, 5-foot-10 to 6-feet tall, wearing a mask similar to a bandana, glasses, gloves and a hat. Police said they did not locate him on scene.
A worker at one of the shops inside was grazed by the bullet but was not taken to the hospital, according to police, he was “mentally shaken but otherwise OK.” The victim was an employee.
“It was just along his right hip, it almost looks like a welt, no penetration on the skin. He’s lucky and he’s happy that he’s lucky,” Vincent said.
He said people started running out of the store, and among the people fleeing was the suspect. A witness said they heard at least four gunshots.
Police are reviewing surveillance video and the investigation is ongoing. They said they have not yet recovered a weapon.
Police said they believe this was an isolated incident and do not believe there is any threat to the public
The swap meet is expected to reopen Sunday.
“It’s a scary experience… you don’t expect it where you work,” Limon said.
