Man accused of murdering friend now charged with shooting at his wife

Man accused of murdering friend now charged with shooting at his wife

(Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office)


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WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Valley man who police believe murdered his friend earlier this month was charged in a separate case Monday with firing at least one shot at his wife about two weeks earlier.

Christopher James Bonds, 26, was arrested Nov. 20 after allegedly shooting Byron Williams, 25, several times outside an apartment complex at 1821 W. Parkway Blvd. (about 2600 South) in West Valley City. Williams died at a hospital shortly afterward.

Bonds has not been formally charged in that killing, but criminal charges filed Monday in 3rd District Court allege that he shot at his wife on Nov. 5, but missed. He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child and two counts of felony discharge of a firearm, all third-degree felonies.

Bonds' wife told police that he pinned her on a bed, pushed against her neck with his forearm until she couldn't breathe and punched her in the face. The woman then escaped the home, after which Bonds "threw a whisky bottle at her, which almost struck her child," according to charging documents.

"The defendant then pulled out his handgun, pointed at (his wife) and shot a round at her," the charges state. "The bullet missed and (she) ran into the residence."

Bonds allegedly fired a few more shots, then fled, though it isn't clear from the charges whether investigators believe he was continuing to shoot at his wife. Court documents don't specify an address where the shooting allegedly occurred. Police say Bonds is a "documented Bloods gang member."

Three children were present at the time, as was the victim's sister, according to the charges. Police reported finding two empty shell casings in the front yard of the home.

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After allegedly shooting and killing Williams, Bonds was arrested for investigation of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and discharging a firearm.

A Salt Lake County Jail report says he "took purposeful measures to conceal the location of the firearm from police." However, police found the weapon near the site of the shooting, West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said.

Police believe Bonds and Williams knew each other and at one point considered themselves friends, but have not publicly identified a motive for the killing.

Bonds is also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana or spice in a separate ongoing case. A warrant for his arrest was filed Sept. 30 after he missed a scheduling hearing.

Bonds pleaded guilty in 2015 to possession of a firearm by a restricted person, as well as a reduced charge of possession of a controlled substance. An assault charge against Bonds was also dismissed in August of this year, according to court records.

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Ben Lockhart

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