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SOUTH JORDAN — A man accused of shooting a party guest 10 minutes after the victim arrived at his house — even though police say the victim was trying to break up a fight — now faces criminal charges.
Jeremiah John Thompson, 19, of South Jordan, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, a first-degree felony, plus carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor, both class B misdemeanors.
On Aug. 15, a 23-year-old man went to a party at 10099 S. 3640 West. He said he had been there only 10 minutes when two women got into a fight in the garage. The man said he attempted to break up the fight when "he heard a loud boom and knew he had been shot," according to charging documents.
As of Friday, the man remained in the hospital. He was able to speak to police, but court documents say he suffered several broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and other internal injuries and "was in a lot of pain and struggled to speak at times" when he was interviewed by detectives.
Thompson claimed he was defending himself and his stepmother after they were surrounded and others rushed them, the charges state. "He reported that he got jumped on and kicked in the chest and was able to get away and get inside."
But police who reviewed cellphone video taken by witnesses say the evidence shows Thompson was the aggressor and the victim wasn't trying to hurt anyone, according to the charges.
Prosecutors have requested he be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without bail.
