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SANDY — A Kearns man traveling with two young children in his car fired 13 shots at another driver, believing that driver was part of a rival gang, according to charges filed Wednesday.
Tony Larod Robinson, 33, is charged in 3rd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony.
A man was on his way to pick up his daughter from a sleepover when he stopped at a traffic light at 9000 S. Monroe Street on Aug. 25. Robinson pulled up next to him and started saying something, so the man rolled down his window to hear what he was saying. Robinson then accused the driver of being a member of two different gangs, according to charging documents.
"(The man) stated that he was not part of the gangs and had never been in either gang. (He) stated that (Robinson) made comments about 'putting a bullet in his head' for representing the wrong gang," the charges state.
When the light turned green, Robinson — who had his two children, ages 6 and 3, in the back seat — allegedly began following the man "in an aggressive manner."
"As (the victim) looked in the rear-view mirror, he could see the male with the handgun. (Robinson) then began to fire his weapon multiple times through the windshield of (his) Dodge Charger. (The victim) stated that he could see the glass shattering and explosions from the gun barrel," according to the charges.
Near 170 W. Harrison Street, Robinson got out of his car and ran toward the other man's car while still firing his gun, the charges allege. Police say Robinson fired 13 rounds, emptying his 9mm handgun. The other man, however, was not injured.
Police noted the victim's car had "a bullet hole and multiple strike marks on the rear passenger bumper and door" and "the rear passenger window was shattered but still intact," the charges state.
The victim told police he did not know Robinson and had no prior interactions with him and "believes he was targeted because of a sticker on his rear window for a custom car company" that looks like a crown and may have resembled a gang symbol, according to the court documents.
When questioned by police, Robinson changed his story multiple times, the charges state, at one point claiming the other driver pointed a gun at him.
"Detectives asked Robinson if this was a case of self-defense and he was shot at, and Robinson interrupted the detectives and said, 'I'm not saying it was self-defense to anything. It just happened so fast.' Robinson then changed his story again," the charges state.
Witnesses said Robinson was still holding a gun as he pulled the two children out of the car and into a Sandy apartment. Police say the 6-year-old "complained of his hearing hurting."
