Residents overpower gunmen in home invasion

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Gene Kennedy reporting With guns in their hands, two men forced their way into a Salt Lake City apartment last night. But the victims wound up getting the upper hand.

It all started with a knock on the door at an apartment where four Guatemalan men live. "One of the suspects pointed a gun at the victim who answered the door and told him to put his hands up. The victim tried to close the door on the suspects but they forced their way in," explained Salt Lake City Detective Jared Wihongi.

Residents overpower gunmen in home invasion

That was just before 10:00 last night at the apartments near 1400 West and Pacific Avenue.

Once inside, the gunmen demanded cash, and police say one suspect claimed the attack was payback for a rape. They are still investigating whether that's true.

Luckily, it only took a matter of seconds for the victims to overpower the two gunmen. "Two of the residents who were eating in the kitchen came in when they heard the commotion. At that point, the victim who opened the door hit the arm of the gun-wielding suspect. The suspect dropped the gun, and then the victims jumped on the suspects and subdued them and called police," Wihongi said.

When police arrived, officers arrested 29-year-old Juan Antonio Mendoza Lopez and 27-year-old Jose Alejandro Luna Iuarra. Both men could face aggravated robbery charges.

While the victims won in this situation, police do not recommend fighting back.