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SALT LAKE CITY — Police have arrested a man suspected of being the getaway driver in a shooting outside a large party in Salt Lake City on Oct. 8.
Rene Chacon, 19, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Wednesday for investigation of obstruction of justice.
Last week, Andre Alexis Cienfuegos Ruiz, 19, was arrested for investigation of several potential charges, including aggravated assault resulting in serious injury. Ruiz is accused of shooting a 20-year-old man in the leg on Oct. 8. A large party was being held that night at 876 S. Edison Street and a fight broke out inside the residence, which then spilled outside the house.
Police say Ruiz fired several rounds at the victim and then ran with Chacon to Chacon's car. Ruiz fired another round at the victim when he reached the car, a police booking affidavit states. Chacon then allegedly drove Ruiz home.
When police questioned Chacon, he said "he did not see the suspect shooting at the victim," the affidavit states.
But after Ruiz was arrested, Chacon was questioned a second time and "admitted to knowing the suspect shot at the victim and admitted to driving the suspect away from the scene," the affidavit alleges.
The same shooting also prompted a police chase with another suspect that ended in a fatal crash.
Police chased a car that sped away from the scene just as officers were arriving, believing the occupants may be connected to the shooting. The vehicle sped through a roundabout at 1100 East and 900 South and crashed. Passenger Douglas Rodriguez, 21, was killed. The driver, Josue Yahir Hernandez-Perez, 20, is charged in 3rd District Court with manslaughter.
Hernandez-Perez admitted to being at the party, according to police. It was not known Thursday whether he and Rodriguez have any connection to Ruiz and Chacon.
