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WEST VALLEY CITY — A man stabbed inside a Kohl's department store Tuesday has died from his injuries.
One man was arrested overnight in connection to the fatal attack and investigators say the incident could be gang related.
West Valley police were called to Kohl's, 3031 S. 5600 West, about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a possible assault. When they arrived, however, everyone involved in the incident had left, said West Valley Police Sgt. Amy Maurer.
But there were many witnesses, both shoppers and employees, who saw the attack, she said, as well as blood, a knife and other evidence that an assault had occurred.
The confrontation between the two men escalated very quickly from words to fists to the stabbing, Maurer said. Store surveillance video captured part of the attack as well as pictures of both the alleged assailant and victim entering and leaving the store.
After the stabbing was reported, the girlfriend of the victim called police to tell them she was driving him to the hospital.
One of the detectives recognized the alleged attacker in the surveillance video, said West Valley Police Sgt. Amy Maurer.
"Officers arrived at the hospital and discovered the victim in extremely critical condition from multiple stab wounds," a Salt Lake County Jail report states.
George Davila, 24, of Salt Lake City, died as a result of his injuries.
Members of the Salt Lake Metro Gang Unit, the U.S. Marshal's Office and the Joint Criminal Apprehension Team were called. One of those detectives recognized the alleged attacker in the surveillance video, Maurer said.
JCAT members went to the man's house, interviewed him and eventually placed him under arrest. He admitted he threw the shirt he was wearing at the time of the stabbing out the car window as he drove off, the report states.
"We don't think it was random by any means," Maurer said. "We don't know what they were doing before (the attack). We don't know if it was premeditation or a chance encounter."
Jose A. Gonzalez, 21, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder, obstruction of justice and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
Email:preavy@ksl.com
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