Gunman Allegedly Shot Salt Lake Store Clerk ‘For No Apparent Reason,’ Police Say
A clerk manning a store in Salt Lake City was shot by a gunman for no apparent reason, leaving him in critical condition. However, his condition was later upgraded to stable after receiving medical attention at a local hospital, according to police reports.
Initially, investigators believed the shooting may have been a result of a robbery. But after conducting further investigations, detectives revealed that it was actually the outcome of an argument between the two men involved. Surprisingly, on Friday, the police stated that the motive behind the shooting was still being investigated and that the clerk was shot for no apparent reason. In addition to the shooting incident, the store’s gloves were stolen, adding another perplexing element to the case, as confirmed by the police.
Thanks to the help of other police agencies and social media posts, the Salt Lake police were able to identify the suspected gunman as Barajas-Macias. Acting upon this information, a search warrant was executed on Thursday night at a residence in Weber County. The arrest was successfully carried out by officers from Salt Lake City’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team in collaboration with the Davis County SWAT team.
Court records reveal that Barajas-Macias had prior criminal charges against him, including two counts of drug possession with intent to distribute and obstruction of justice, filed in September at the 2nd District Court in Davis County.
In a separate incident, Barajas-Macias pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a child and, in exchange, three counts of sodomy on a child were dismissed. Surprisingly, he was ordered to be released from custody after his plea. Subsequently, on September 12, just ten days after his release, he received a sentence of one to fifteen years in the Utah State Prison. However, the prison sentence was suspended and he was placed on four years of probation instead. He also received a sentence of over three years in the Salt Lake County Jail, but credit was given for the time he had already served since his arrest in 2020.
As per court records, a warrant was issued for Barajas-Macias’ arrest on October 19 for violating the terms of his probation. However, he was released from jail again on November 16.
The investigation into the motive behind the shooting continues, with police working diligently to uncover more details regarding this senseless act of violence. Meanwhile, the victim, once in critical condition, now faces a long road to recovery as he begins the process of healing from this tragic incident.
Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information related to the shooting or the suspect to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation. The Salt Lake City Police Department is working tirelessly to ensure justice is served and to prevent any further harm to the community.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of crime and the importance of remaining vigilant in our communities. As this case unfolds, it serves as a call to action for all members of society to work together in creating a safer environment for all.
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