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SALT LAKE CITY — A professional bull rider was shot and killed in what police are calling a domestic violence-related homicide early Monday in Salt Lake City.
Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, 27, of Fresno, Texas, was killed just hours after he competed in the Utah State Fair. Allen was known by fans as "Ouncie Mitchell," according to a statement from Professional Bull Riders CEO Sean Gleason.
"Ouncie was a talented cowboy," Gleason said. "Ouncie got his name because he was born small. He grew up to compete with a huge heart. The organization sincerely extends our own heartfelt condolences to Ouncie's cousin Ezekiel Mitchell and the entire Mitchell family."
According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Allen competed at the fair on Sunday night. Allen came to Salt Lake City to attend the Utah State Fair and arranged to stay with LaShawn Denise Bagley, 21, whom Allen had been in an "on-off" relationship with, according to a police booking affidavit.
About 12:06 a.m., dispatchers received information about a man who had been shot at the 965 Central apartment complex at 965 S. 200 West. Officers found Allen outside the woman's apartment and began providing emergency medical care. He had at least one gunshot wound, Salt Lake police said in a statement.
Allen was taken by ambulance to Intermountain Medical Center, where he died.
Police said they saw "multiple bullet holes" in the glass door to apartment #102, "to include bullet impact/strikes to an exterior window of apartment 102. The bullet impact/strikes all appear to be coming from inside to outside," according to a police booking affidavit.
Allen and Bagley had gone to a downtown bar and got into an argument, after which Bagley drove back to her apartment without him, and Allen got a ride to the apartment to pick up his belongings, the affidavit states.
"Prior to the (Allen) and witness arriving at the apartment, (Allen) attempted phone calls and text messages to alert (Bagley) that he was coming over to retrieve his property. When the victim and witness arrived at the apartment, they both knocked on the door and announced that they were there to retrieve the victims property," police wrote in the affidavit.
Police said Bagley then "fired several rounds through the glass door," and at least one round struck Allen in the torso.
"There is no indication of any forced entry or attempted forced entry into the apartment. The witness also stated that there was no entry or attempted forced entry into the apartment and that they were only there to retrieve the victims property so the victim could leave and stay at another residence," the affidavit states.
Investigators found "all blood evidence" outside the apartment. "There is no observable blood evidence inside the apartment to indicate the victim was inside the apartment when he was shot," according to court documents.
Police say when Bagley was brought into custody, she invoked her right to have an attorney present and was not interviewed. Officers reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, according to the affidavit.
Bagley was arrested for investigation of murder and felony discharge of a firearm.
The shooting is the city's 10th homicide this year.
Contributing: Sydnee Gonzalez
Domestic violence resources
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
