Family grieving 'unimaginable loss' following fatal shooting in Sugar House

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Usman Dalal, 20, was killed in a shooting in Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood on Saturday morning.
Cesar Gonzalez Juarez, 24, was arrested for investigation of murder and obstruction of justice.
Dalal's family seeks funds for funeral expenses and support for his mother.

SALT LAKE CITY — The man shot and killed during a fight in Sugar House over the weekend had dreams of going to the University of Utah and going to live near the ocean.

"He was only 20 years old, and he meant the world to everyone who got to know him. Usman had a big heart; he loved his family and friends. Usman had so many hopes and dreams for his life. He was pursuing higher education and was going to transfer to the U of U, he wanted to travel the world, he wanted to move to California to be near the ocean, and he wanted to one day have a family and give (his mother) grandchildren that she could love," his sister wrote in a GoFundMe* posting.

"He will never be able to do any of these things because someone decided they could take his life from him."

On Monday, Salt Lake police confirmed that 20-year-old Usman Dalal was the victim of Saturday morning's fatal shooting near 1300 E. Wilson Ave. (1760 South). Cesar Gonzalez Juarez, 24, was arrested for investigation of murder and obstruction of justice.

Dalal was walking to a house party with friends when several people in a Volkswagen drove by and words were exchanged, according to a police booking affidavit.

"The argument escalated to a shoving match, where it was then reported that Dalal punched Cesar in the head, causing Cesar to fall to the ground. Shortly after falling to the ground, witnesses stated Cesar then retrieved a pistol from his waistband and fired at least two times, with at least one round being fired into the air," the affidavit states.

Once the shots were fired, Dalal and others began running away, police say. But one of the men with Gonzalez ran after Dalal, tackled him, and the two began fighting in the street. After the man punched Dalal, "leaving (him) lying in the street," he "believed the fight to be over" and started walking away, police state in their affidavit.

That's when Gonzalez walked up to them and fired several more rounds at Dalal, according to the affidavit.

Gonzalez later turned himself in at the South Salt Lake Police Department but claimed the shooting was in self-defense, according to police.

The GoFundMe* page states that Dalal was the youngest of three children and his mother's only son.

"As we all grieve this unimaginable loss, Usman's single mother … is faced with processing the loss of her youngest child," her family stated.

The family is hoping to raise money to cover funeral expenses and help Dalal's mother.

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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