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WEST VALLEY CITY — Two men have been arrested in connection with a case of someone firing shots Thursday that forced the brief lockdown of several nearby schools.
Several people reported hearing shots fired in the area of 5300 West and 2700 South Thursday morning. By early afternoon, West Valley police had arrested Ricardo Garcia, 22, for investigation of five counts of illegal shooting and obstruction of justice.
Garcia told detectives that he got into a fight with a man and two women who drove away after the confrontation.
"(He) fired seven shots at the fleeing vehicle from his handgun," according to a police affidavit.
Garcia then called police but hid the spent shell casings in his car before officers arrived. He "later admitted he took between five and seven casings because he panicked (and tried) to hide them from police," the affidavit states.
A second man, Jayson Vargas-Holt, 22, was arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice. According to a police affidavit, Holt "misled" police about the shooting his friend was involved with. Holt was present when the shooting occurred, but "told police his friend never fired."
West Valley police tweeted Thursday that detectives had served search warrants and seized a gun and "evidence of drug distribution." The search continued Friday for a silver vehicle that allegedly drove away from the area. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 801-840-4000.
