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ST. GEORGE — Two men were arrested Wednesday for investigation of attempted murder after police say they shot at a man as he was driving away from a low-level drug deal.
At 10:15 p.m. on Jan. 23, police say a man arrived at St. George Regional Hospital after having been shot six times in the right arm.
The man's car had 11 bullet holes in it. Seventeen 9mm casings and several jars of what is thought to be marijuana were found in the area of the shooting, according to a police booking affidavit. Investigators found the "main focus of the bullets were going in the direction of the driver's seat of the vehicle."
Police identified eight people who they say were involved in the incident, some of whom told police the group had intended to rob the man of marijuana.
Police said some of the people allegedly involved told them that Gavin Williams, 19, planned to steal marijuana from the man who was shot and provided guns to others involved. They also told police that Williams threatened them if they told anyone about the incident, the affidavit states.
"Other suspects involved identified Gavin as one of the ones who had fired at the victim as he was speeding away," the arrest report alleges.
"Gavin also made phone calls to his girlfriend who was involved and told him that she had spoken to law enforcement and their involvement with this incident after a search warrant was served," according to the affidavit. During the recorded phone calls, police say Williams "asked her why she would tell the police they were there when they weren't" and that he told the girlfriend to stop talking to detectives.
Police say Lars Randal Albertsen, 19, was also accused by the others of helping plan the robbery. The others who were allegedly involved told police Albertsen took a picture of money to send to the man with the marijuana as proof that he would purchase the marijuana but that he never had any intention of actually buying it, police said.
Albertsen also fired at the man as he was driving away, according to the affidavit.
Williams and Albertsen were both arrested for investigation of attempted murder, aggravated robbery, criminal mischief including a loss equal to or greater than $5,000, criminal conspiracy, and felony discharge of a firearm. Williams is also accused of tampering with a witness.
Investigators requested that Williams and Albertsen be held without bail. Police called them "a danger to the community" and said they could be a threat to the others who were involved in the incident.
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Gabrielle Shiozawa
