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WEST JORDAN — A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for investigation of murder as police continue to look for additional suspects in connection with the shooting deaths of three men at a house party in West Jordan over the weekend.
On Monday, police released the names of the three men who were killed: Fayzan Ali, 18, Ayash Mohamed, 18, and Mohamed Mohamed, 20, all from Millcreek.
Police were initially called to 3355 W. 6920 South, about 10:45 p.m. Saturday on a report of shots fired at a house where approximately 30 people were attending a party. The three victims were standing outside the house when either a car, or multiple cars, drove by and shots were fired. West Jordan police officer Alondra Zavala said it was not immediately known if shots were exchanged between the two sides or if multiple people fired at the victims. She confirmed that more than one type of shell casing was recovered at the scene.
Two of the victims were found by police in the front yard and the third was found in the back. One person was pronounced dead at the scene and two others later passed away from their injuries at a local hospital.
Investigators believe everyone involved in the shooting has gang ties and that the incident was a "targeted" act related to gang activity. It was unknown if the alleged gunmen were attending the party prior to the shooting or if they found out about it and went there looking for the victims, Zavala said.
Witnesses provided police with a description of a white Cadillac believed to be one of the vehicles involved. West Jordan police were able to track that vehicle down, which lead them to the home of a 16-year-old boy. The teen was arrested for investigation of murder, obstruction of justice and other gun-related charges and booked into Salt Lake County Juvenile Detention, Zavala said. Search warrants were served on the car and at the boy's house where a gun was recovered, she said.
Zavala said additional arrests are expected.
Police are also continuing to look for witnesses who were either at the party or in the neighborhood, or who may have heard information about the case through a friend of a friend or saw something posted about the shooting on social media. Anyone with information can contact police at 801-840-4000.
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