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SALT LAKE CITY — A Murray man accused of killing a man in the parking lot of a Hires restaurant last month shot the victim in the back, according to court records.
Hassan Al-Rekabi, 18, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony; discharge of a firearm, a second-degree felony; and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
On April 28 about 1:40 a.m., West Valley police found the body of Jake Gengelbach, 22, in the parking lot of Hires Big H, 4700 S. 2900 West. Four shell casings were also found in the parking lot, according to charging documents.
Al-Rekabi and Gengelbach were standing by the same vehicle when Al-Rekabi "reached over the top of the vehicle and fired four shots," the charges state.
An autopsy determined Gengelbach suffered "multiple gunshot wounds to the back," according to charging documents.
A possible motive for the killing was not given in charging documents. Police had previously stated that the victim and three men arrested in connection with the shooting were all acquainted. Bail for Al-Rekabi was set at $1 million.
Based on several tips, a SWAT team surrounded a house in Sandy, 2125 E. Newcastle Drive (8900 South) on April 29. Just as the SWAT team was about to serve a warrant, Al-Rekabi drove away from the house. He was taken into custody a short time later.
Later, police announced that Samuel Maile Niu, 19, and Bryan Zumaya-Garcia, 21, had both been arrested for investigation of obstructing justice. Both men were present during the shooting, police said. As of Wednesday morning, formal charges had not been filed against either man.
