South Salt Lake man shot, killed friend after fight through text messages, police say

Police respond to a shooting death in South Salt Lake on Friday.

Police respond to a shooting death in South Salt Lake on Friday. (Alson Crosby, KSL-TV)


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SOUTH SALT LAKE — A South Salt Lake man was arrested late Friday after police say he shot and killed a 17-year-old friend of his after the two got into some kind of fight over text messages.

Anthony Raymond Woodrow, 18, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder, four counts of aggravated assault, felony discharge of a firearm and being a restricted person in possession of a firearm.

Woodrow and the friend, whose identity has not yet been released, were involved in a "text messaging altercation" and at some point, the victim came to Woodrow's house at 457 Woodland Ave.

Both Woodrow and his father were intoxicated and both armed themselves with guns, according to a police booking affidavit, which says Woodrow had "ingested both marijuana and multiple alcoholic beverages."

Police say Woodrow's mother went outside and spoke with her son's friend and allowed him to come inside.

"Prior to the victim being allowed into the residence, (Woodrow's) father had commented that things sounded calm outside with the victim, and they needed to put their firearms away. The ... father then took his firearm into the kitchen and set it on the table," the affidavit states.

Woodrow said he didn't want to talk to the friend and went into his bedroom. At that point, the victim and Woodrow's mother got into an argument and police say he threatened to assault Woodrow. Woodrow then came out of his room and two were arguing while the parents tried to separate them.

The friend said he was going to leave, but the mother "was pulling on his clothing. As the victim got to the door of the residence, (Woodrow) commented that he was going to shoot the victim. The victim then charged at (Woodrow) and (Woodrow) pulled a firearm he had concealed on his person and shot the victim five to six times," the affidavit alleges.

Police say Woodrow then called 911 "and made a spontaneous statement to the dispatcher that he had just shot someone."

The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Woodrow told police he shot his friend multiple times because "he was in fear that the victim was going to assault him," the arrest report says.

Officers reported recovering several weapons from the home.

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Brian West is News Director at KSL.com, managing the daily coverage of news. He has had an extensive career in media, working in radio, newspaper, TV and internet publications.

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