Police call deadly swap meet shooting possible murder-suicide


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WEST VALLEY CITY — Two people were shot and killed Tuesday evening at a swap meet in West Valley City.

The incident happened around 6 p.m., just yards from the front entrance to La Azteca Indoor Bazaar Swap Meet at 3952 W. 3500 South.

"Officers quickly arrived and discovered an adult female and an adult male on the ground in the parking lot," Powell said. "Both appeared to have apparent gunshot wounds to the chest."


This lady stumbled as she's screaming, as she went to the ground, and we heard another pop.

–Collin Morgan, witness


Collin Morgan and Mike Winter were driving westbound on 3500 South when they say they heard a "pop."

"We just thought, 'Oh, the fireworks (are) going on early,'" Morgan said.

Then the two heard screaming.

"All of a sudden the lady started running after we heard that pop, and he started walking gradually toward her," Morgan said. "This lady stumbled as she's screaming, as she went to the ground, and we heard another pop."

As they pulled their car forward in traffic, the two passersby saw a male lying on the blacktop. The two continued on their way, but returned a few minutes later to make a statement to police.

"It was a very dangerous situation," said West Valley City Police Sgt. Mike Powell. "We were concerned about that, and that's why we had such a quick response."


We're not actively looking for anybody. We have everything contained at this location and we believe everybody outside is safe.

–Sgt. Mike Powell, WVCPD


Powell said it appears the man shot and killed the woman, then killed himself. Investigators don't know a motive or the relationship between the two but say the public doesn't need to worry about a gunman on the loose.

"We're not actively looking for anybody," Powell said. We have everything contained at this location and we believe everybody outside is safe."

Police had cordoned off a large area of the parking lot, including many cars that had been parked at the scene. The male's body, partially covered by a white sheet, was marked by a collection of orange hazard cones.

The woman had been transported from the scene for medical attention, Powell said.

What witnesses said was the woman's black sweater lay crumpled on the pavement on the other side of a row of parked cars from the body.

In a press release issued around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Powell added "We do not believe that there is any threat to the public, and we are not looking for any outstanding individuals."

Police are still working to identify the two individuals killed and to notify their families.


Written with contributions from KSL News producer Sandra Orton and Ladd Brubaker.

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