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WEST VALLEY CITY — An 18-year-old Salt Lake man accused of shooting a man in the face in a failed robbery attempt has been charged with attempted murder.
Patrick Van Pham was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with attempted murder and aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies, after allegedly shooting 20-year-old Vincent Martinez on March 23 and taking his cash.
Pham reportedly went looking for Martinez, who he said took his Xanax, asking an acquaintance to drive him around and picking up a gun in a blue, plastic Cobra case along the way, charging documents state. He met up with Martinez at Overlook Point Apartments, 4640 S. 2970 West, and went into the bathroom.
The driver waited outside after Pham instructed him to start the car if he heard gunshots, the charges state.
Others in the apartment heard a gunshot and wrestled the gun away from Pham, who fired off several more shots in the process after he rushed out of the bathroom, according to the charges. Police say Pham ran from the apartment, leaving the gun behind, as a bleeding Martinez stumbled from the bathroom.
Martinez was shot through the upper part of his cheek and the bullet exited at the bottom of his jaw on the opposite side of his face.
Prior to Pham's arrival, police say Martinez was showing off a stack of cash he was carrying in his pocket. Officers located Pham leaving his apartment with "$1,520 in blood-stained cash" and a bag containing bloody clothing, ammunition and a blue, plastic Cobra gun case, according to the charges. A Cobra firearm, which had an empty magazine and had malfunctioned, was located in Pham's apartment.
Pham was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm and obstructing justice, second-degree felonies, as well as felony discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a restricted person, both third-degree felonies.
