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SALT LAKE CITY — An investigation into a Wednesday morning shooting turned into an aggravated kidnapping investigation by the afternoon.
Salt Lake police say Victor Gabino Perez, 32, of Salt Lake City, took Samantha June Medina, 24, at gunpoint, firing at least one round into an apartment and forcing her into a vehicle.
Later Wednesday night, police found Medina, but Perez remained at large, with police warning that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Court records showed Perez had prior convictions for burglary, theft and drug possession.
Salt Lake police detective Greg Wilking said Medina was in good condition at a local hospital, but did not have more details about how she was found.
"We still have to conduct interviews to find out what took place," Wilking said.
Earlier Wednesday, Just after 8:30 a.m., officers were called to 775 South Post St. (940 West) on a report of a shot fired. When officers arrived, they found a bullet hole in the front door of a triplex, Wilking said.
A woman who answered the door said no one else was inside. But a short time later, a man came out of the house and also claimed no one else was inside, Wilking said.
Detectives obtained a search warrant to go through the house. Because of the inconsistent answers from people in the apartment, officers weren't sure if anyone else was still inside and called a SWAT team to serve the warrant, Wilking said. No one else was found inside, he said.
After more investigating, detectives learned that Medina, who was in the residence, was allegedly taken by Perez. Wilking said detectives believe Medina is a friend of Perez's ex-girlfriend or spouse.
It was unclear what the motive was for the alleged kidnapping.
Police described the residence as a "flop house," with different people staying there on a regular basis.
For renter Bo Schmidt, the wild series of events was a shock. Schmidt said he had allowed Medina to stay in his apartment for roughly the past week, and had allowed her to shower there for the past month.
“I guess she had to do a birthday party or something today, and so I thought it would be okay,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said Medina had “wanted away” from her “lifestyle.”
“I guess she got mixed up with some wrong people,” he said. “They were starting to put hands on her and stuff, so she needed an out.”
Perez was seen leaving the area in a white or gray 1995 Pontiac Grand Am, with Utah license plate No. E585NB.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Salt Lake police at 801-799-3000.
Contributing: Andrew Adams
