5 arrested in Orem in shooting, pursuit investigations

OREM — Five people have been arrested in Orem following a shooting and chase with police that resulted in one officer almost being run over and two other vehicles being hit.

The wild string of events started Wednesday when Orem police were notified that a man who had been shot twice was taken by a friend to the emergency room of Timpanogos Hospital, according to a police booking affidavit. The 25-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and elbow, the affidavit states.

The victim, however, declined to tell officers where the shooting occurred, according to police. Investigators later developed information that the shooting happened in a parking lot at 1260 S. 1600 West in Orem. According to a witness, the victim met with two men who arrived in separate vehicles. The men were allegedly looking for another man and believed the victim had information on his location, according to several police booking affidavits.

The witness could hear the victim and one of the men in the car arguing "and heard (the victim) state something to the nature of 'You won't shoot me,'" the affidavit states.

"While the victim was speaking with Ryan, a rifle was produced. The victim was shot twice with the rifle, once in the right elbow and once in the abdomen. After the shots were fired, both vehicles sped away from the location at a high rate of speed, almost hitting an employee who was in the parking lot," according to another police booking affidavit.

The Utah County Major Crimes Task Force and a SWAT team were called to help with the investigation. Detectives held surveillance on the suspects' house. When the two men believed to be involved in the shooting returned, they were taken into custody.

Ryan Ariel Marquez-Bencomo, 22, — the alleged gunman — was arrested for investigation of aggravated assault, obstructing justice, drug possession and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.

Neit Armando Renter-Gurrola, 20, was arrested for investigation of aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, obstructing justice and possessing marijuana in a correctional facility.

Police served a search warrant on their home and recovered a rifle and other evidence, the affidavit states.

While police were keeping surveillance on the house, two cars pulled up and then left a few minutes later. Detectives followed and attempted to detain the occupants of the vehicles when they pulled into a store parking lot, according to several police booking affidavits. As police approached, one car stayed while the other took off.

"A car sped away from detectives and almost ran over a Utah County Major Crimes detective who advised that it was an aggravated assault against him. The car also crashed into a car in the parking lot to get away," one of the affidavits states.

Another affidavit noted that the vehicle "swerved at a Major Crimes detective twice before hitting a civilian's vehicle." Police chased the car through Orem, Lindon and Pleasant Grove. The pursuit ended when the fleeing car "crashed into a second civilian vehicle" and "was completely destroyed in the pursuit and rolled to a stop," according to the affidavits.

As police were chasing the car, occupants were throwing items out the windows, the affidavit states.

Three people in the car were arrested. Kelby Luis Vizcarra, 32, and Carlos Alberto Garcia-Herrera, 27, were booked for investigation of drug possession with intent to distribute and evidence tampering. Salvador Morales, 26, was arrested for investigation of aggravated assault, failing to stop at the command of police, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, drug possession with intent to distribute, not having a valid license, having a measurable amount of alcohol, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police are investigating whether the shooting is gang-related.

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