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KEARNS — Five teenagers are in police custody in connection with a gang-related shooting at a Kearns Park last week. Two adults have also been arrested on other charges as part of the investigation.
One hundred-sixty officers from the Unified Police Department, including 100 SWAT officers, served seven search warrants Friday morning, gathering people and evidence connected to the case.
When people are standing in our parks and shooting at each other, it will simply not be tolerated.
–Sheriff Jim Winder
"You know, a lot of times we're hesitant to say this is gang activity," said Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. "I'm certainly not hesitant this time, because this is straight up a gang against another gang, and we want to pursue it in that fashion."
"When people are standing in our parks and shooting at each other, it will simply not be tolerated," Winder said.
The search warrants were executed at homes of Surenos and Nortenos gang members, including two on Crockett Drive, three on Heath Avenue in Kearns, one on 5100 South, and one on Barton Park Drive in West Jordan.
Police arrested Aaron Campbell, a documented member of the Nortenos gang. He was in possession of a fire arm with the serial number scratched off. He also had a warrant for his arrest.
Police also arrested Nohe Lopez, and his 17 year old son, who police say is one of the shooters in last week's shootout at Mountain Man Park. Investigators say he is a member of the Nortenos gang, and fired the shot that hit the 17-year-old Surenos gang member in the leg.
If you commit violent crime in our community ... it will be prosecuted from the day of the even to the day of sentencing.
–Sim Gill, Salt Lake County DA
Police say there was a shooting between the two gangs in May that lead up to the Mountain Man Park shooting. Then following the park shooting, there was a series of gang-related events — an assault being one of them.
Police felt another big event between the two gangs was building, and that's why they stepped in and made the arrests.
"We definitely have sent a message that gang violence in this community certainly will not be tolerated," Winder said.
"If you commit violent crime in our community, it will be addressed, it will be investigated, and it will be prosecuted from the day of the even to the day of sentencing," said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.
Gill says prosecutors will be considering the charges in the next few days, including one crucial question: whether some of the juveniles should be tried as adults.
Written by Shara Park, and Pat Reavy with contributions from John Hollenhorst.
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