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WEST VALLEY CITY — A food court employee is in critical condition after he was stabbed repeatedly while he handed out food samples to mall-goers Saturday evening.
At about 4:50 p.m., police responded to what they believed was an altercation at Valley Fair Mall, 3601 S. 2700 West, said West Valley City Police Sgt. Robert Brinton. Responding officers learned a food court employee, who was outside offering samples to customers entering the mall, was approached by three individuals who stabbed him approximately nine times in the back, Brinton said.
The victim was taken to IMC in critical but stable condition.
One of the offenders was detained at the scene. The other two fled but were detained at another location a short distance from the mall. Stratford Jones, 18, Kyler Cozad, 20, and Shawn Begay, 20, were questioned and later booked into Salt Lake County Jail for aggravated assault in connection with the stabbing, West Valley police said.
Police are working to determine whether the victim knew the individuals who attacked him and believe the incident may have been gang related, Brinton said.
