Vigil held for shooting victim

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Sara Dallof and Nicole Gonzales reporting There was a somber vigil tonight in memory of a store clerk gunned down during an armed robbery. He was a well-known manager of a Family Dollar store in the Glendale area.

Family and friends are struggling to deal with Wally Knapton's death. He was well-liked, a guy who would help anyone out. There have been no arrests in the case, and tonight police are saying the robbers are likely involved in at least two other cases.

Wally Knapton's father shook with sobs at tonight's vigil as friends and co-workers spoke about the 49-year-old Family Dollar manager. Co-worker Christine Langston called him, "Probably the best boss on earth. You see how many people were here, that was his community."

They lit candles, added notes of sympathy to a growing memorial, and vowed to not be scared away by violence.

Friend Jay Ingleby said, "If I have to come over here with a ball, bat and pipe and stand out here until the employees leave, I will do that."

Knapton was killed Wednesday during an armed robbery. Surveillance video shows him apparently cooperating with the robbers seconds before he was shot and killed. Police believe the suspects are involved in two other robberies in the Salt Lake Valley, targeting smaller stores in random neighborhoods.

Salt Lake City Police Chief, Chris Burbank, said, "It really is not about the money, looking at businesses. It's more about the power and control they gain from doing this. Very violent group, they've fired shots before."

On the tape, one of the suspects appears to be about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 170 pounds. The other appears to be 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds. Police say the two suspects joined a third party in a gold, four-door sedan with "Ski Utah" license plates. Witnesses were able to get a partial plate number off of the vehicle: The first and second numbers are 2 and 9, and the last letters "TD."

Family Dollar will reopen for business Tuesday morning. Langston says, "Wally's proud of this store, we're going to continue to make him proud." It's what friends and family of Knapton say he would have wanted.

Ingleby said, "He was a great guy. He's not here with us tonight. You're sitting on the left-hand side of God, Wally, and you deserve it."

Donations were also collected at the vigil to help pay for funeral expenses and to be given to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Knapton had a real soft spot for dogs and cats, according to his dad.

If you have any information on the case, please call Salt Lake Police.

E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com