SLCPD releases more information on funeral fight that injured 6 near downtown SLC funeral home
UPDATE, 7:55 p.m. The Salt Lake City Police Department has released additional information about the “chaotic scene” that left six people injured near a Salt Lake funeral home on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a press release sent out on Tuesday evening, SLCPD believes the incident broke out as a physical fight.
“At this time, there is no reason to suggest any sort of threat to our community,” officials said in the release.
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Police said they received several calls about a fight and stabbing near the funeral home and paramedics transported four people to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.
While it was originally reported by police that at least one person was shot, police revised that statement in the press release, saying, “Doctors have been unable to confirm the cause of injury to the person who was thought to have a gunshot wound.”
Two other individuals who were injured were found by police in a vehicle that left the scene “at a high rate of speed just after the initial accident.” Both of those people were taken to the hospital but had been released by the time SLCPD released more information.
SLCPD said detectives with its Violent Crime and Robbery Squad and Gang Unit are helping with the investigation.
As of the latest information given by SLCPD, there have been no arrests made.
Anyone with information is asked to call 801-799-3000 and reference case number 24-60664.
ORIGINAL STORY: “Chaotic scene:” Police say 3 stabbed, 1 shot, 2 others injured near downtown SLC funeral home
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Three people were stabbed and one person was shot after an altercation outside a funeral home along the 300 block of E. 100 South in downtown Salt Lake City this afternoon.
Salt Lake Police Communication Director Brent Weisberg said police first reported to a “chaotic scene” around 1:30 p.m. It is unclear how many people were on the scene and it’s also unclear exactly what happened. Weisberg said three people have received stab wounds and another was shot. No names, ages, or genders have been released.
The person who was shot was in critical condition this afternoon with a potentially life-threatening wound. Those stabbed ranged in condition from minor to serious, though none of their wounds were considered life-threatening.
Weisberg said one eyewitness saw a vehicle leaving the funeral home “at a high rate of speed,” and reported it to officers. Police were able to stop that vehicle outside 49 W. Broadway. Inside, they found two people with “minor injuries” and a third uninjured person who was detained for questioning. A firearm was found in the car, and Weisberg explained that police are in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle and working to seize that firearm.
Back near the funeral home, Weisberg said three people were found with stab wounds, and one person was found with a gunshot wound. A total of six persons were taken to local hospitals.
Weisberg said that as of 3 p.m., there are no official suspects in the case yet, and all those wounded have been referred to as “patients,” since it is unclear what happened. It is believed that everyone wounded was attending the funeral.
Weisberg asked local residents to share any surveillance footage or doorbell camera footage they may have from the surrounding neighborhood to help police develop leads in the case. Weisberg said officers from the SLC Police’s Gang Unit, Violent Crime and robbery squads are all working the case.
The funeral in question appears to have been for Jacob Valdez, 27, who according to his Legacy.com obituary, recently died “from a drug overdose “after suffering a long battle that was lost to addiction.”
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