Police say West Valley woman told man to leave before shooting him in the back

WEST VALLEY CITY — A woman who police say shot a man in the spine as he tried to get out of her house, leaving him paralyzed, now faces criminal charges.

Terica Joneil Savas-Caldwell, 29, of West Valley, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with shooting a gun and causing serious injury, a first-degree felony; spitting at an officer, a class A misdemeanor; and assault, a class B misdemeanor.

On Sunday, about 9 p.m., police were called to 4440 W. Trinity Ave., where a 48-year-old man had been shot and was found lying in front of the residence, and a 32-year-old man was stabbed multiple times and found in the kitchen. The two men were taken to local hospitals in critical condition.

Savas-Caldwell claimed that the man who was shot had attempted to sexually assault her and the other man stepped in to stop it, but was then stabbed by the first man, according to a police booking affidavit.

According to charging documents, Savas-Caldwell told police that she and the man "got into a dispute" and that she told him to leave. But as he was walking out, she shot him in the back, the charges state.

"The shot caused serious bodily injury, and medical reports indicate that (the man) is paralyzed," according to the charges.

When police responded, Savas-Caldwell spat in an officer's face before fainting, the charges state. She was taken to a local hospital where she kicked an employee in the chest, prosecutors stated.

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