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SALT LAKE CITY — A 58-year-old man is in custody following a domestic violence-related shooting early Friday, according to police.
Charles Coprich was arrested for investigation of four counts of shooting in the direction of a person, aggravated assault resulting in serious injury and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting his 57-year-old wife and allegedly shooting at another person.
About 12:25 a.m., Salt Lake City police officers responded to the area of 600 W. South Temple on a report of a shooting. According to police, Coprich had tracked his wife to that location using an app that showed him the location of her phone.
"When (Coprich) arrived he located the victim in her vehicle along with a male subject whom he did not know," a police booking affidavit states.
The man got out of the car and went to talk to another person. Coprich then approached the man and "ultimately fired at least two rounds" at him, the affidavit states. The man was not hit or injured.
Coprich then got into a confrontation with his wife, who was still sitting in the driver's seat of her car, during which "the firearm discharged resulting in the victim receiving two gunshot wounds in her back. The victim reported she was also struck several times during the struggle," according to the affidavit.
The alleged gunman and victim had driven away by the time officers arrived, but witnesses provided police with a description of the suspected gunman's vehicle.
"An officer found a car matching the description being driven recklessly near 400 S. 900 West. Officers, with assistance of Utah Highway Patrol troopers, safely took the suspect into custody near 3400 S. State. This was not a pursuit," police stated on Friday.
Inside the car, Coprich's wife was found in the back seat with a gunshot wound. She was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police.
Detectives questioned Coprich, who "stated he was only trying to remove the victim from the vehicle," and then "accidently fired one shot during the struggle," the affidavit states. Coprich also allegedly claimed he fired two "warning shots" at the other man.
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
