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SALT LAKE CITY — Police arrested two people on investigation of murder after a shooting spree that killed one man and injured two other people early Friday.
Melvin Dyer, 51, was shot and killed and two others — a man and a woman — were injured when bullets "grazed" their heads, said Salt Lake police detective Richard Chipping.
Police were called to reports of shots fired at an apartment complex, 1930 S. West Temple, about 5:30 a.m.
"A lot of witnesses, a lot of people yelling, three victims, so it was pretty chaotic," Salt Lake Police Lt. Mike Ross said of the scene when officers arrived.
A 35-year-old woman was injured when a bullet grazed her ear, Chipping said. Another man was also found with a graze injury to his head. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police were initially looking for three men last seen dressed in black in connection with the shooting, according to Chipping. Salt Lake police later reported on Twitter that 38-year-old Tonita Holland and 36-year-old Brody Olson had each been arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder. Police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident as of Friday night.
Victim in today's homicide has been identified as Melvin Dyer (51) Brody Olson (36)has been booked into jail for Murder, Robbery, Burglary
— SLC Police Dept. (@slcpd) February 17, 2017
Olson was additionally being investigated for robbery and burglary, Salt Lake police said. A jail report filed in Olson's arrest states he was carrying out "a home invasion robbery" and that one of the three shooting victims "hit him numerous times in the head with a flashlight."
At least three shots were fired, Chipping said. Investigators were waiting to obtain search warrants to go through two apartments that were believed to be involved.
2nd suspect,Tonita Holland (38) has been booked into jail for felony Murder in the Homicide of Melvin Dyer no other suspects are outstanding
— SLC Police Dept. (@slcpd) February 18, 2017
"There were a number of people in an apartment here behind us and some type of argument occurred, and that escalated into a shooting," Ross said.
Police were also originally looking for a white Cadillac that drove off after the shooting. While officers were on scene investigating the incident, however, the Cadillac and the driver returned. Chipping said the man was detained and questioned.
While detectives don't believe he is the gunman, he said the man is "related to the situation."
The man initially resisted as officers detained him for questioning, shouting to nearby reporters that he had nothing to do with the shooting but was coming by to check on a friend.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call police at 801-799-3000. Contributing: Peter Samore
