Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MURRAY — Two more men suspected of being involved in a recent shooting at Fashion Place Mall are now facing criminal charges.
Yessa Harun Nena, 20, of Midvale, and Michael Peter, 18, of West Jordan, were each charged Monday in 3rd District Court with causing a riot and obstructing justice, third-degree felonies.
They join Imanuill Ahmed, 18, of Salt Lake City, as co-defendants, who was charged last week in 3rd District Court with eight counts of shooting a gun, obstruction of justice and causing a riot, all third-degree felonies.
Police were called to the mall, 6191 S. Fashion Blvd., on Jan. 13 after witnesses called 911 saying two sides were shooting at each other.
"Multiple bullet holes were located in the east-side storefront of the Container Store, and some of the bullets made it through the glass and into the store," according to charging documents.
Detectives reviewed surveillance video from the mall and observed five males go to a kiosk inside the mall and wait around it for a couple of minutes. Another man, the kiosk employee, is then seen walking toward the kiosk to go to work. That's when Nena approaches him to allegedly shake his hand, the charges state.
The employee told police he did not know Nena, and then noticed the other males nearby who were wearing masks and hoodies and had their hands in their pockets, according to the charges.
"(He) stated that he didn't feel safe, so he started to leave," the charging documents say.
The employee walked to his car but noticed that the group had followed him outside.
"While (the employee) was in his vehicle he observed one of the males holding a gun to the side of his hip. (He) stated that he was concerned if he drove away they would shoot so he got out of his car to talk them down. (He) stated that when he got out of his car, they already had a gun out. (The employee) stated that one of the males was accusing him of disrespecting a cousin and asking him about gang affiliations," the charges state. "During this, two of the males walked closer to (the employee) and one had his gun out with his finger on the trigger and began pointing the gun at him."
Fearing his life was in danger, police say the employee pulled a gun out of his bag and shots were exchanged, the charges state.
"Surveillance from the Container Store show Ahmed firing his weapon in the direction of (the employee) as he's running away from the area, while return fire strikes the Container Store. Eight shell casings were located in the area detectives determined Ahmed fired his weapon from," according to charging documents.
When questioned by police, "Ahmed stated that the other guy shot so he shot back," the charges state. "Ahmed stated that he fired the whole 'clip' and it was 9mm rounds."
Nena and Peter both denied any involvement when they were questioned by detectives.
In December, Nena was placed on three years of probation for obstruction of justice for his role in the 2022 gang-related fatal shooting of Talib "Kunda" Ahmed, 18, in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven, 4051 S. State.
