Two Arrested In Connection With Fashion Place Mall Shooting
Jan 14, 2019, 12:04 PM | Updated: 7:42 pm
MURRAY, Utah – Two of three suspects have been arrested in connection with a gang-related shooting that forced the lockdown of Fashion Place Mall.
Officials with the Murray Police Department said they took two people in custody Monday. The two arrested were identified as Jesus J. Payan-Mendoza and George C. Gonzales, both 19-years-old.
Law enforcement from throughout the valley responded Sunday around 1:30 p.m. to what was initially called in as an active shooter outside Fashion Place Mall.
Police confirmed Monday during an update on the investigation the gunfire sparked from rival gangs that happened to cross each other by chance while inside the mall. A verbal argument broke out between the two gangs believed to be from the Summit or Wasatch County area.
That verbal fight then believed to turn physical outside the Mall and that is when shots were fired from one of the groups, dropping two people to the ground. Gunfire was then returned from the opposite gang. The woman shot was released from the hospital yesterday, but the man shot is still listed in critical condition at IMC.
“Everybody involved in the shooting was a member of one of the other of the gangs there were no by standers that were struck the only people hit were, I don’t know if they were the intended out of that group that were hit,” said Officer Kenny Bass, spokesperson for the Murray Police Department.
Payan-Mendoza Gonzales were arrested and booked on charges for attempted criminal homicide and discharging a firearm. The gang task force and detectives are still looking to speak to others involved.
This is an ongoing investigation and Murray police ask if anyone has further information to come forward. As for the alarm that went off Sunday inside the mall, police say that was unrelated to the shooting and had been randomly going off days prior and was coincidental.
The press conference can be viewed below.
