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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police believe all three boys suspected of being involved in a shooting at Liberty Park Tuesday night are just 14 years old.
About 7:10 p.m., a 16-year-old boy walking with a 15-year-old girl near the Chase Home were confronted by three 14-year-old boys, said Salt Lake police detective Cody Lougy.
A verbal altercation ensued. Lougy could not say Wednesday what words were exchanged between the two parties. The fight ended when one of the 14-year-old boys pulled out a gun and fired once, striking the 16-year-old in the chest.
Police believe the shooting has gang ties, but the connection between the three 14-year-olds and victim was still vague on Wednesday. Lougy said it was also not clear what specifically prompted the confrontation.
"It appears they may have crossed paths or known each other," he said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Lougy said Wednesday that the boy was stabilizing and is expected to survive.
Related:
16-year-old in critical condition after shooting at Liberty Park
A 16-year-old boy was in critical condition Tuesday night after being shot at Liberty Park, police say.There were several people in the park at the time of the shooting who called police and gave good descriptions of the three fleeing teens who all ran off in different directions.
The suspected gunman was arrested almost immediately just outside the park by police officers who were in the area. A handgun was later recovered at an undisclosed location.
It was unknown Wednesday how the boy obtained the gun or whether it was stolen. He was booked into Salt Lake Juvenile Detention for investigation of aggravated assault.
About an hour after the incident, a second 14-year-old was spotted by officers who had set up a large containment area around the park and he was taken into custody. That boy had not been booked into juvenile detention as of Wednesday morning. Lougy did not know Wednesday that status of the boy.
Detectives continued to look for the third boy on Wednesday, though Lougy said they believe they knew who he is.
Anyone with information on the shooting can call police at 801-799-3000.
