Unified Police link three shootings, repeat offenders to one gang
Dec 8, 2021, 8:31 PM | Updated: Dec 9, 2021, 11:11 am
SALT LAKE CITY – Officials with the Unified Police Departmentsaid three recent shootings that involved three different suspects in three different cities are all tied to one violent gang that has terrorized the Salt Lake Valley.
Pat Reavy of KSL.com broke the story after months of research into the suspects.
The string of related violent incidents increasingly concerned police as the list of victims kept getting longer.
The story started near a car wash in Millcreek in October 2020. UPD officers said a 21-year-old man was unsuspectingly shot and killed while walking into a convenience store.
“The individual that was killed in that it appears may have been a case of mistaken identity,” said UPD Sgt. Melody Cutler.
3 killings tied to same gang; frustrated detectives keep arresting same people https://t.co/XfAPLguHXD via @KSLcom
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) December 8, 2021
The Metro Gang Unit named 20-year-old Awad Majok as one of two shooters in the case. Detectives said his own fellow gang member, 20-year-old Anei Joker, ratted him out.
Cutler said, “During that interview, Joker gave some information to our detectives that gave them an indication that Awad was at that scene.”
Detectives said that Joker told them about a rap song Awad Majok wrote.
Cutler said, “Awad wrote a rap song about that killing and we were able to get some of the lyrics from Joker.”
According to the Metro Gang Unit, the lyrics include, “My (blank) took a life for me. Body drop right in front of me.” Police believe it’s about the shooting in Millcreek.
“They know each other very well. They are in the same gang,” Cutler said.
Police shot and killed Joker last week in a standoff and shootout that wounded two officers in Taylorsville.
Police said 22-year-old Buk M. Buk is the third suspect and is also involved in Majok’s gang.
Buk is currently facing murder charges for the shooting death of University of Utah Football player Aaron Lowe back in September.
According to KSL.com, Buk was seen with Majok just three weeks after the Millcreek shooting. The suspects were in a stolen car where police also found a gun linked to the shooting.
Cutler reiterated, “The public safety danger with these individuals is incredibly high.”
Majok has not been charged for the shooting in Millcreek. However, he is currently serving time for a separate robbery crime.
According to KSL.com, Majok has requested an early release from the judge- adding to detectives’ frustration.
Detectives are working to charge Majok in the Millcreek shooting before he is released.
UPD officials confirms a stolen gun was used in the Millcreek shooting.
