Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
KSL team coverage Police believe they now have all three suspects in custody for a murder at the Family Dollar store. This evening, police arrested the woman they believe drove the getaway car, and this morning they booked two teenage boys.
There's a sense of relief in this community that all the suspects have been arrested, but many are still in shock that three teenagers, one of them only 13 years old, may have committed such a senseless crime.
Rosina Gibson said, "Wally was such a good guy. He was always nice to everyone."
The victim, Wally Knapton, was a well-known, much-respected store manager of the Salt Lake Family Dollar. Last week Knapton was shot and killed by two men during an armed robbery.
Detective Jared Wihongi, with the Salt Lake City Police Department, said, "We're really thankful that these individuals are off the street. It would have been a matter of time before someone would have been hurt."
Through a series of tips over the past 24 hours, police took three people into custody: 19-year-old Sarah Ataala, the alleged getaway driver; 18-year-old Biu Olive, who was taken into custody yesterday after a SWAT team surrounded a home in Salt Lake City; and a 13-year-old boy.
Van Turner, a business owner and Salt Lake City council member, said, "I was surprised. It's tragic kids get involved in this sort of thing so early in their life."
Turner helped authorities identify the shooters and some of their friends. He says they recently ate at his restaurant. "I can't make heads or tails out of this to tell you the truth," he said.
Police say the two arrested in the home last night weren't hiding, which shows just how brazen they are. Officers found them at the 13-year-old's house, not too far from the Family Dollar store.
According to the probable-cause statement, Olive, with the help of the 13-year-old, robbed the Family Dollar store and one of the customers. While doing so, he shot and killed the store's manager, Wally Knapton. Jail documents say Olive openly admitted to the robbery and murder.
Joel Meredith was dropping his son off in the neighborhood during all the police action. "We like this neighborhood, and it's a good neighborhood, and you're not used to having that many bad apples," he said.
Rosina Gibson is praising police. Like many in the Glendale neighborhood, she was a frequent customer at the store and knew Knapton well. "Wally was such a good guy. He was good to everyone," she said.
Olive was 17 when the murder happened, but he could be tried as an adult. Police say he has gang ties.
Police are still investigating whether Olive and the 13-year-old suspect are responsible for other recent robberies, namely the one at Chuck-A-Rama in Salt Lake, Winger's in Bountiful, and another in West Valley.
Meanwhile, KSL has learned the 13-year-old suspect was a student at Glendale Middle School, where many of the students are still suffering from the recent suicide of a classmate.
Salt Lake City School District spokesperson Jason Olsen said, "A school is an intricate part of a community. If something affects the community, it's going to affect the school."
Wally Knapton's family declined to make any comment today. We spoke to the parents of the 13-year-old, who didn't say much other than that they are very sad and sorry for what has happened.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
