Saratoga Springs man arrested in gas station shooting

Ryan Bittan
·2 min read
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4) — A Saratoga Springs man was arrested Thursday in relation to a gas station shooting, according to Saratoga Springs Police.

Matthew Kyle Ward, 33, was arrested on three counts of felony discharge of firearm in the direction of a vehicle (third-degree felony) and criminal mischief — recklessly endanger human life (third-degree felony).

On Feb. 8, at around 4 a.m., police responded to a gas station on Crossroads Blvd. in Saratoga Springs. The victim — an employee at the gas station — told police he walked outside to find bullet holes in the driver’s side of his vehicle.

The vehicle was parked directly in front of the gas station, police said.

Upon review of surveillance video, officers learned the incident happened sometime between 1:23 a.m. and 1:28 a.m. that morning. They also believed the bullets were fired from the west.

Employees at the gas station reportedly told police that they believed a former disgruntled employee — identified as Ward — had committed the crime, and that this employee had been arrested previously for stealing beer at the gas station.

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Officers later reviewed surveillance from a nearby business, and found a person on a bicycle with “drop bar-style” handlebars riding near the gas station at the time the crime was believed to have been committed.

The person allegedly stopped, pulled out a gun, and fired three rounds at the vehicle. Police said the individual had paused between each round, indicating that the person was using a revolver-style handgun.

Police said Redwood Rd. was located behind the vehicle, and that the road, as well as other businesses and a residential neighborhood, was within the line of fire.

“Detectives believe that the person firing these shots, did so recklessly and endangered lives and
public safety in the process,” a probable cause affidavit states.

After conducting surveillance on Ward’s apartment, they found him to be in possession of a bicycle with the same “drop bar-style” handlebars, a revolver-style handgun, and a jacket that matched the one seen on video.

Ward was arrested on the charges previously mentioned.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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