Two Arrested In Connection With Provo Protest Shooting
Jun 30, 2020, 7:12 PM | Updated: 9:58 pm
An SUV drives through a group of protesters who were blocking an intersection in Provo on June 29, 2020.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Police said two people have been arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred in Provo during Monday night’s protests.
Jesse Taggart, 33, of Salt Lake City, and 27-year-old Samantha Darling, of Ogden, were arrested Tuesday, according to officials with the Provo Police Department.
Sgt. Nisha King with the Provo Police Department said Taggart was booked into the Utah County Jail on multiple charges, including attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault, rioting, firing a weapon near a highway and criminal mischief.
Darling was booked on charges of obstruction of justice and rioting.
Attempted Aggravated Murder, Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Rioting, Threatening Use of a Weapon in a Fight or Quarrel, Criminal Mischief, Firing a Weapon Near a Highway.
— Provo Police (@ProvoPolice) July 1, 2020
Police said a 60-year-old Provo man was shot and injured after a man allegedly fired a shot through the passenger window of his SUV Monday. He was in stable condition.
Police said protesters began to block the SUV, which was attempting to turn right from University Avenue onto Center Street, during Monday’s protests.
The suspect then raised what appeared to be a gun and fired through the car’s window, hitting the victim.
“Several protesters began crowding around the vehicle,” said John Geyerman, deputy chief with the Provo Police Department. “The male protester ran toward the SUV on the passenger side, pointed a handgun at the driver, and shot one round through the window. The driver, who was struck by the bullet, accelerated, trying to leave the situation. The same protester ran after the vehicle and fired a second shot that went through the rear passenger window.”
Peaceful protests are a fundamental right and often can become an important catalyst for positive change. Criminal acts and violence such as we saw last night in Provo were anything but peaceful and are UNACCEPTABLE. The public safety of our community is a top priority. pic.twitter.com/AHgF9jbelB
— Michelle Kaufusi (@mayorkaufusi) June 30, 2020
An enhanced video taken by KSL TV photographers of Monday’s scene shows a masked man raising his hands and pointing something that looks like a gun at the SUV. The video also captured something that resembled a casing coming off the object the man pointed.
[KGVID]https://ksltv.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PROVO-PROTEST-SHOOTER.mp4[/KGVID]
Members of the Provo City Council said the victim was running an errand in the area at the time of the incident.
As a city council, we repudiate this senseless act of violence. We are still learning more about what happened, including other possible acts of violence and aggression.
— Provo City Council (@provocouncil) June 30, 2020
These recent events should not overshadow the real grievances of people of color nor undermine or disrespect the brave service of our police officers.This is a time for restraint and calm.
— Provo City Council (@provocouncil) June 30, 2020
King said the investigation into the protests and related incidents is ongoing. She thanked citizens and the Ogden and Salt Lake City police departments for their help in the investigation.
who gave evidence and testimony to investigators and to allied agencies and officers who assisted this investigation, notably Ogden and Salt Lake City Police Departments.
The investigation of criminal acts incident to protest events in Provo last night is ongoing.
— Provo Police (@ProvoPolice) July 1, 2020
