Man arrested in weekend shooting outside Salt Lake nightclub

SALT LAKE CITY — A documented gang member who served prison time for a violent assault has been arrested and accused of shooting another man in a parking lot outside a Salt Lake club early Sunday.

Santana James Percival, 32, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of attempted murder, aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, and discharge of a firearm.

Just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, police were called to Liquid Joe's, 1249 E. 3300 South, on a report of a shooting. They arrived to find a man in the parking lot who had been shot.

"The victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance with injury to his shoulder and neck caused by the single gunshot. I responded to the hospital where I observed that the victim had a gunshot wound that traveled through his shoulder. The bullet then traveled into his neck, narrowly missing vital arteries," according to a police booking affidavit.

Detectives received information that the shooting may be the result of a prior confrontation with Percival. Investigators reviewed surveillance video and observed Percival was inside the club before going to the parking lot "and appeared to be readily waiting for the victim to exit the club," the affidavit states.

After exchanging words, Percival pulled a gun out from a backpack and fired once at the victim, according to police.

Detectives say Percival — who goes by the moniker "Criminal" — is a documented gang member with a "violent history." In 2018, he was convicted of aggravated assault resulting in serious injury and aggravated assault in connection with a brawl in which four people were stabbed in West Valley City, according to court records. One person suffered life-threatening injuries. Percival was sentenced in that case to a term of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.

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