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SALT LAKE CITY — A man shot in the head during an alleged dispute over a cigarette has died, Salt Lake police announced Monday.
Nickolas Parks, 38, had been in life-threatening since being shot on Oct. 11 and was not expected to survive.
On that day, Parks and his girlfriend got into an argument with Joseph Marquez, 60, allegedly over a cigarette, at Wasatch Inn, 1416 S. State, according to a police booking affidavit. Parks and the woman walked away from the altercation, but a short time later, Marquez went back to Parks' room to continue the argument, according to police.
"The victim and his girlfriend then exited the room and the verbal altercation continued," the affidavit states. "During this altercation, an eyewitness told police that they observed (Marquez) shoot the victim in the head with a gun."
The gun allegedly used by Marquez was handed to him by Thomas Leory Glasker, 71, according to police. He then drove Marquez away from the motel after the shooting.
Both men were eventually arrested for investigation of attempted murder. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will now consider murder when filing formal charges.
