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- A 20-year-old man was shot and killed in a Sugar House neighborhood fight early Saturday.
- Cesar Gonzalez Juarez, 24, turned himself in to police and claimed he shot the victim in self-defense, officers say.
- Gonzalez was booked for investigation of murder and obstruction.
SALT LAKE CITY — One man was shot and killed early Saturday during an argument that escalated into a physical fight in a Sugar House neighborhood.
Two groups got into an argument near 1300 E. Wilson Ave. (1760 South) at a house party and started fighting. During the fight, Cesar Gonzalez Juarez, 24, pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at a 20-year-old man, Salt Lake police said in a statement.
Officers responded to reports of the shooting at 12:18 a.m. and when they arrived, they discovered the victim lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, "but despite lifesaving efforts from first responders and hospital staff, the man died from his injuries," police said.
Just before 1 a.m., Gonzalez went to the South Salt Lake Police Department and "told officers that he had just shot someone and it was self-defense," according to a police booking affidavit. He turned over an empty 9mm pistol to officers. Gonzalez was then booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder and obstruction of justice.
Witnesses told police that Gonzalez and the victim, identified only as U.D., arrived at the party about the same time and exchanged words while Gonzalez was still in a car. At some point, Gonzalez got out of the car and the two got into a shoving match, the affidavit states.
The victim punched Gonzalez in the head, causing him to fall to the ground. "Shortly after falling to the ground, witnesses stated (Gonzalez) then retrieved a pistol from his waistband and fired at least two times, with at least one round being fired into the air," according to the affidavit.
The shots caused people to run, including the victim. One of Gonzalez's friends told police he then chased after U.D. and tackled him in the street, where the two of them continued to fight.
The friend said he eventually stood up, leaving U.D. lying in the street "and believed the fight to be over. (He) said (Gonzalez) then walked up to them in the street and (he) witnessed (Gonzalez) fire several more rounds at U.D. before he and (Gonzalez) fled the scene on foot," the affidavit alleges. The friend said he then drove Gonzalez to the police station because Gonzalez "wanted to turn himself in."
Gonzalez told police he continued to fire at the victim until his pistol ran out of ammunition, the arrest report says.
The arresting officer wrote, "(Gonzalez) fired all the available rounds in his firearm at the victim who was lying on the ground during the altercation. This was done in a crowded area while dozens of partygoers were leaving the area, thus putting the public at serious risk of being struck by gunfire during the discharge of the firearm."
