Five ‘known gang members’ arrested after fleeing from shooting, police say
Dec 28, 2024, 7:50 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2024, 11:38 am
WEST JORDAN — Three men and two teens were arrested after fleeing from several police agencies and causing a crash on Bangerter Highway Friday night.
According to the police affidavit, Unified police officers were notified of gunshots being heard in the area of 8250 S. Main Street in Midvale. A supervisor from the Unified Police Department also reported hearing the gunfire.
Police reported seeing a Black Subaru Legacy fleeing the area, and at approximately 7:30 p.m., Unified officers attempted a traffic stop.
According to the affidavit, the Subaru fled the traffic stop, and “officers counted to follow the vehicle throughout Sandy, West Jordan, and South Jordan.”
The officers reported that the passengers of the fleeing Subaru appeared to be discarding two handguns near 7800 South. The affidavit stated that after the chase, a forensics team responded to Bangerter Highway and “did locate at least two firearms/firearm pieces.”
According to the affidavit, the Subaru attempted to make a U-turn near 7000 S. Bangerter Highway and struck a bystander car. Officers disabled the Subaru on the on-ramp to southbound Bangerter Highway and took the five occupants into custody without further incident.
“In plain view, officers located multiple spent shell casings in the passenger rear of the vehicle floorboard,” the affidavit stated. “Officers also observed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the rear passenger door.”
Officers reported that over 20 spent casings were found near 8250 S. Main Street. Police also found two other locations where spent casings were found and are believed to be connected to the Subaru.
According to the affidavit, Christian Pena Renteria, 19, Luis David Quintana Melo, 20, and Miguel Guzman Garcia, 18, were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of 10 counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony, and one class-A misdemeanor for tampering with evidence.
Police reported that Renteria was the driver, Melo was the front passenger, and a 16-year-old was sitting on the rear driver’s side. Renteria was also booked on a third-degree felony charge of failing to stop at the command of police.
The 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were booked into a juvenile detention facility.
According to the affidavit, the five suspects were gang-affiliated.
