Authorities at the Salt Lake City Police Department are on the hunt for the individual responsible for an incident of gunplay that occurred during the July 4 celebrations at The Gateway shopping center, as detailed by SLCPD. The incident, which resulted in injury to two bystanders, has triggered an investigation into the reckless discharge of a firearm into the sky amidst a public gathering.
The SLCPD was alerted to the situation at 11:21 p.m. on the night of the festivities after reports came in about a person hurt during the event, and while they were carrying out their investigation, officers discovered a second injured party, who also appeared to have been struck by a falling bullet. At the scene, detectives were able to recover a small-caliber bullet close to one of the injured individuals, indicative of the gravity that such a seemingly innocent act of firing a gun into the air can have.
Deputy Chief Bill Manzanares from SLCPD, speaking on the matter, expressed relief that the injuries were not more grave, "We’re really lucky no one was more seriously hurt or worse," he stated, as obtained by SLCPD. The department is now soliciting help from the community to identify and subsequently hold accountable the person behind the trigger. Surveillance footage from the vicinity of The Gateway has been reviewed; however, the identity of the suspect continues to be a puzzle for law enforcement.
