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SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah jury has found a man guilty of shooting and killing another man who was intervening in an attempted kidnapping.
The 3rd District Court jury late Tuesday found William Henry Clark, 36, guilty of aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping with serious injury, both first-degree felonies; and possession of a firearm as a restricted person, a second-degree felony.
Ryan Prendergast, 21, was shot about 4:40 a.m. on April 26, 2021. A police booking affidavit said Clark's ex-girlfriend was staying in a tent with Prendergast and she exited the tent when Clark pulled up. Clark ordered the woman into his car, placing the barrel of a firearm on her cheek, and when Prendergast came to intervene Clark fired the gun and hit him in the chest, according to police.
Charging documents said Clark had left multiple threatening messages on the woman's phone stating he would hurt her and her friends.
The jury trial began on March 9, with jury selection the day before. It was scheduled to run through Friday but testimony ended less than three days into the trial.
The jury was given an option to find Clark guilty of murder instead of aggravated murder, but the jury selected the more severe charge.
Clark was arrested early on April 28, 2021, after a 12-hour standoff with police. Police received information that he was at Oquirrh Hills Apartments and Clark barricaded himself in his apartment with his son, police reported. Despite the length of the standoff no one was injured.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill thanked the lead prosecutors, Shane Cohen and Abby Brinkerhoff, and their staff for their work on the case, along with the Salt Lake City Police Department for its work in the investigation.
"Mr. Clark is a violent offender that may now spend the rest of his life in prison. He can no longer pose a threat to our community," Gill said.
A statement from Gill's office said Clark could face a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. His sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
