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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingOfficers say the man who worked at the SkyBox was going to his car after work when the assault happened. Four men stabbed him in the neck and in the back. After the stabbing, many of you logged onto our website to comment on the safety of the area around the Gateway.
At the site where the stabbing happened, almost two blocks west of the Gateway, employees and shoppers are still parking there to go to the mall. Shoppers with bags are walking to their cars on this street today. They obviously felt safe enough to do it, but some say the area around the Gateway is "sketchy" in the day and especially the evening.
One man who works in the area where the stabbing happened says he's always looking over his shoulder.
Shawn Ferguson works two blocks west of the Gateway: "From what I've seen and the kind of people I see around here all the time, that's the only reason I'd say that, if it wasn't me, I wouldn't want anybody to be here by themselves."
We actually saw what resembled a sharp kitchen knife just lying on the ground, and an Eyewitness News investigation from a year ago showed violent assaults, people getting knocked out and a lot of drug use and drug deals in the area at night.
Gateway security assured shoppers they are constantly patrolling the area in cars and on foot. They have a 24-hour security system with cameras in the garages and along the walkway. They've also brought in extra off-duty Salt Lake police officers to patrol during the holidays, plus they offer shuttles during overflow shopping times.
But police still offer this advice.
Lt. Dave Askerlund, Salt Lake Police Department: "it never hurts to have more than one person with you, stay, park your car in lighted areas."
The Gateway security doesn't patrol the street because they don't own the property, so if you're concerned at all, it's probably a lot safer to park in the underground lots.
