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Karen Scullin reporting Police say a recent flair up between two rival gangs set off Saturday night's quadruple shooting in Murray. The battle was between the so-called "Surrenos 13" and the Original Laotian Gang, or O.L.G.
Police say they haven't had too many major problems at the Fun Dome. So they were surprised when two gangs battled it out Saturday night, surrounded by innocent bystanders.
While some gang wars are old and deep-rooted, the gun battle between Surrenos 13 and O.L.G. that ended with a four year old boy in the hospital, is a recent flair up with no real substance.
Detective Luis Argueta/Metro Gang Unit: "IT APPEARS THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS A MACHISMO THING. APPARENTLY THESE SURRENOS BANGERS THOUGHT THE O.L.G. KIDS TRIED TO START A FIGHT WITH THEM THE DAY BEFORE."
In all, four people were hit-- two innocents, and two gang members.
Just last month, O.L.G. gang members also opened fire at a West Valley City gas station. In that incident, police say a rival gang member was shot and survived, but the victim's friend was killed. O.L.G. is an Asian gang, and cops say Asian gangs in Utah have gotten extremely violent. They often try to out-fox the cops.
Detective Argueta: "IT'S DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE THEIR NAMES, TO WRITE DOWN THEIR NAMES AND THEY THINK THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE US A DIFFERENT NAME AND THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONFUSE US INTO THINKING THEY'RE SOMEBODY ELSE."
Part of the issue in Utah is the lack of real turf. Salt Lake Valley gangs are very mobile, crossing over into everyone's territory, including areas that are supposed to be nothing but family fun.
Detective Argueta: "THAT'S THEIR TERRITORY FOR RIGHT NOW, THAT MOMENT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE FIGHT WILL START." "TURF IS WHEREVER THEY ARE AT THE TIME?" "CORRECT."
Three people have been arrested from O.L.G.-- a 19- year old girl who was the getaway driver, and two 16 year old boys.
